Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention is concerned with thc problem of applying
2 sleeves to containers which are non-cylindrical in shape, such as
3 the tapered necks of bottles or necks or containers ~hich depart
4 in some other rcspect fro~ a cylindrical configuration, for
5 example necks which contain ribs, scrcw thrcads or the li~e. Such
6 departure from cylindrical shape interfers with, or makes it
7 impossible to adhering one end of a sleeve to a container and then
by rotating the container wrap the sleeve around it. An example
9 of this wrap around technique is described and claimed ir my U.S.
10 Patent No. 3,834,963.
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12 One method used heretofore to apply sleeves to non-
13 cylindrical necks of containers, such as the tapered necks of
14 bottles, has been to preform the sleeves in frusto conical shape
15 and then apply them one by one to the containers. This, however,
16 is an expensive procedure and does not lend itself to a continuous
i 17 operation in which sleeve segments are formed continuously from a
;~ 18 continuous web of sleeve material and each severed segment is then
19 applied to the containers.
21 It is an object of the p;esent invention to provide
22 improved apparatus and method for applying sleeves to non-
23 cylindrical necks of containers.
.1 2 24
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26
27
28
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It is a further and particular object of the present
invention to provide method and apparatus for applying sleeves to
non-cylindrical necks of containers such as, for example, tapered
necks of bottles by means which allow a continuous feed of sleeve
material, severing individual sleeve segments in sequence, forming
each severed sleeve segment into a tube and then applying the tube
to the non-cylindrical neck of a container and shaping the tubular
sleeve to the shape of the neck.
Thus, one aspect of the present invention is defined as
an apparatus for applying sleeves to non-cylindrical portions of
containers comprising: at least one cylindrical mandrel; means for
gripping a segment of a flexible sleeve material on the mandrel
while the mandrel is rotated to thereby form the segment into a
cylindrical sleeve; means for supporting a container in line with
the mandrel with the upper end of its non-cylindrical portion below
the mandrel; and means for sliding the sleeve off the mandrel and
directly onto the container.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a
method of applying sleeves to non-cylindrical portions of containers
which comprises the following steps: (a) presenting in succession
segments of sleeve material (b) attaching one end of each sleeve
segment to a rotating cylindrical mandrel, detachably adhering
such end to the mandrel and wrapping the segment around the rotating
mandrel to form a tubular sleeve (c) presenting a container having
a non-cylindrical portion to each mandrel bearing a tubular sleeve
formed in step (b) and (d) slipping each tubular sleeve off of its
27 mandrel and onto the container presented to the mandrel.
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10t~401~
The above and other objects of the invention will be
apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.
Certain forms of the invention are illustrated by way
of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 through
9B illustrate apparatus and a method for applying a deadset
material such as metal foil to containers such as champagne
bottles in which the sleeves are not only shaped to the taper of
the necks but are also folded over the tops. Figure 10 illustrates
another embodiment in which there is no fold over feature. Figure
11 illustrates a heat shrink method of conforming the tubular
sleeves to the shape of the neck of the container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRPWINGS
Figures 1 through lE are schematic views illustrating
various stages in the preforming and molding of a cylindrical
sleeve over the neck and stopper end of a bottle. Reading from
right to left:
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I Figurc 1 is an isometric vicw of the cylindrical cappiny
2 sleeve which is formed;
4 Figure lA illustrates the sleeve in an initial stage of
S deformation wherein inwardly extending spaced apart longitudinally
6 extending creases are formed;
8 Figure lB illustrates the stage of deformation wherein
9 the creases are completely formed and the top end of the sleeve
10 has been deformed inwardly over the stopper end of the bottle in
11 the form of a pyramid;
12
13 Figure lC is a further stage wherein the partially
14 preformed sleeve end has been pressed against the stopper end of
15 the bottle; .
16
Figure lD illustrates the shape of the sleeve in an
18 initial stage of molding;
19
Figure lE illustrates the completely molded sleeve of
21 Figure lD on a bottle neck and over the stopper end thereof;
22
23 Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational stretched out
24 view illustrating phases of the sleeve preforming section of the
25 machine, the view being taken in an arcuate plane along section
26 line 2 - 2 in Pigure 3 looking inwardly from the outside;
27
28 .
29
31
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l Figuxe 2A is a side elevational view, partly in section,
2 illustrating the ring mounted for up and down movement axially of
3 a mandrel upon which a cylindrically capping sleeve is formed, and
4 which carries creasing blades, and also movably mounted stripping .
S fingers for slipping a sleeve off of the mandrel and over a bottle
6 neck; the dotted line position of a finger illustrating its
7 disengaged position with respect to the top end of the sleeve,
the position of the ring and engaged finger being that indicated
9 by letter P in Figure 2; -
Il Figure 2B is a similar view illustrating the position12 of the creasing blades when the ring is moved downwardly
13 sufficiently to cause the blades to engage the top end of the
14 sleeve; the position being that at Pl in Figure 2;
16 Figure 2C is a developed stretched out schematic view,,
similar to Figure 2, illustrating various stages of the molding
18 steps on the preformed sleeve, taken in an arcuate plane indicated
19 by the section line 2C - 2C in Figure 3, also looking inwardly
20 from the outsides
21
22 Figure 3 i8 a more or less schematic plan view partly
23 n section of the entixe apparatus; portions of the structure
24 eing broken away to illustrate the construction;
26 Figure 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the
2~ ntire apparatus, looking in the direction of arrow 4 in Figure 3;
28
29
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1084016
I Pi~urc 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view,
2 partly in clevation, taken in planes indicatcd by line 5 - 5 in
3 Figure 3, at a position wherein a sleeve formed on a mandrel is
4 about to bc stripped or slipped off th~refrom onto a capped bottle
5 illustrated in the Figure;
6 :
7 Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a mandrel, and :
ring movable axially thereof which carries the aforementioned
9 stripping fingers and creasing blades; the view looking in the
10 direction of arrow 6 in Figure 5;
11 . ' . ..
12 Pigure 6A is a plan view, partly in section, looking in
13 the direction of arrow 6A in Figure 6;
14
15 Figure 6B is a vertical sectional elevation taken in .
16 planes indicated by line 6B - 6B in Figure 6A;
17 __~
18 Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation
19 of the molding portion of the apparatus, taken in a plane indicated
20 by line 7 - 7 in Figure 3;
21
22 Figure 7A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation
23 of the molding roller and molding cavity portion shown in Figure 7;
24
Figure 7B is a fragmentary elevational view looking in
26 the direction of arrow 7B in Figure 7;
2~
28 Figure 7C is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in
29 a plane indicated by line 7C - 7C in Figure 7;
31
32 - 6 -
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10l~4016
I Figure 7D is a fragmentary enlarged plan vie~, part].y
2 in section, taken in planes indicated by lir.es 7D - 7D in Fiyure
3 7A; the stopper end of a bottle being shown in phantom lines;
Figure 7E is a fragmentary plan view, partially
6 schematic, of a cam actuating mechanism for molding rollers .
7 looking in the direction of arrow 7E in Figure 7A; :
9 Figure 7F is an enlarged schematic fragmentary plan view
10 of the cam arrangement shown in Figure 7E, illustrating different
tl positions of the sets of molding rollers;
12
13 Figure 7G is a schematic elevational view illustrating
14 a modified arrangement of molding rollers; .
16 Figure 8 is a plan view, partly schematic and partly in;
17 section, of the capping sheet forming section of the apparatus
18 including the vacuum drum and mandrels for forming capping sleeves,
taken in a plane indicated by line 8 - 8 in Figure 8B;
20 . .
21 Pigure 8A is a section of the adhesive applicator taken .
22 in a plane indicated by line 8A - 8A in Figure 8;
23 .
24 Pigure 8 B is a vertical section taken in planes
25 indicated by line 8B - 8B in Figure 8;
26
27 riqure 9 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section,
28 illustrating drive mechanism for the entire apparatus taken in a
29 plane indicated by line 9 - 9 in Pigure 9A;
31
32 . - 7 -
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I Figurc 9~ is a vertical section taken in planes
2 indicated by section lines 9A - 9~ in Fiqure 9;
4 Figure 9B is a verti.cal section taken in a plane
S indicated by line 9B - 9B in Figure 9;
6 . .
7 Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2 but terminating
8 just prior to the position marked as Pl in Figure 2 and showing
9 containers other than champagne bottles ~hich do not require a
10 fold over of the sleeve material at the top; and
Il ..
12 Figure 11 is a diagramatic illustration of a heat shrink
13 method of shaping the tubular sleeves to the shape of thb neck of . .
14 the container.
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22
24 .
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15~84016
2 DEl`AILED DESCI~IPTION
With particular reference to Figures 2, 2C, 3 and 4,
4 he apparatus comprises essentially three main sections, namely
5 a capping sheet forming section A which severs individual sheets
6 from a parent strip of material; a section s which forms
7 cylindrical sleeves from the respective sheets and preforms
them to conform partially to the shape of bottle necks and
9 bends the upper ends of the sleeves inwardly over the stoppered
10 ends of the bottle; and a molding section C wherein the
11 preformed capping sleeves on the necks of the bottles are
I2 molded to the shape of the necks and to the stoppered ends of
13 the bottle. The capping method is illustrated in Figures l
14 through lE which from right to left depict the various phases
15 of a capping procedure. In this connection, these Figures
16
17
18
19 . .
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
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1 lllustrate a champagne bottle for ~hlch the invention has
2 particular applicablllty but may be employed for the capplng
3 Or other types of bottles or simllar contalners.
4 As 19 shown in Flg. lA, the bottle 2 has a generally
5¦ conlcally shaped or inwardly tapered neck 3 wlth a stopper 4
6 closlng the bottle di~charge openlng. Usually in champagne or
7 the llke bottle, stopper 4 ls restralned by a wlre (not shown)
8 wound about the neck Or the bottle, and the stopper has a
9 rounded top. The cap on such type of bottle not onl~ serves
as a label in many lnstances but ls for ornamental purposes to
Il hlde the re~tralning wlre as well as to present a plea~lng
12 appearance. The capplng materlal is generally one which ls
capable o~ assuming a dead set condltion when creased or ~olded,
14 1 such as lead or alumlnum ~oil.
In the lnventlon hsreof, the cap ls rlrst formed as
16 a cyllndrlcal sleeve 6 from a ~heet 6 , which has opposite end
17 edges adhesively bonded together as lndicated at 7. Succe~s~Je
181 sleeves are rormed ln the apparatus in z manner to be descrlbed,
19 and sllpped over the respectlve bottle neck~, It wlll be noted
that the sleeve ls o~ such length as to extend beyond the top
21 end Or the bottle stopper when the lower edge 8 Or the sleeve
22 ls supported or rests on the body or the bottle as 19 shown in
23 Flgs. lA through lE.
24 In the rlrst step Or the method a~ter rormation Or
the sleeve, lt 18 sllpped over a bottle neck. The upper end
26 Or the sleeve is then creased lnwardly by creaslng means to be
27 subsequently de~crlbed, ~o that there are multlpllclty o~ such
28 creases 9 extendlng longltudlnally at sp~ced apart locatlons
3l ! about eh- pe dph of th~ 8 _e ~hl8 causes th- upper end
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1~)84011.i
I o~ the sleeve to be partlally turned or bent ~nYardly over t~e
2 stopp~r end 4 o~ the bottle. Creasing ~s contlnued ~urther
3 along the length of the sleeve a~ shown ln Fig. lB; and as ls
4 llluQtrated in such Flg., the top end o~ tne sleeve i~ de.or~ed
5l into conlcal pyra~ldal shape 11 over the stopper end o~ the
6 bottle. As a result Or the crea~ing and inward bendin~ Or the
7 upper end o~ the ~leeve, it becomes prerormed partially to the
8 shape Or the bottle neck to facilltate subsequent molding Or
9 the sleeve completely to the shape Or the bottle neck and its
stoppered end as will be explained more fully hereina~ter.
11 Flg. lC lllustrate~ the next phase Or the method
wherein the conically shaped end o, the sleeve ls molded flat
13 at 12 in a mold cavlty, against the stoppered end o~ the ~ottle,
14 to conror~ completely to the shape Or the stoppered end of the
1~ bottle. Such end molding Or the sleeve is errected by clamp~ng
16 the bottle between a support platfo.-m therefor and the ~old
I7~ cavlty. me mold cavlty and the plat~orn are mounted for
18 rotatlon Qo that when the bottle 1~ rotated about lts axi3,
19 ~ultably arranged moldlng rollers yieldably press agalnQt the
side Or the sleeve to compre~ the creased portlon and the
21 remainder Or the sleeve, as is lllustrated ln Flg. lD which
22 deplcts an lnltial stage Or the moldlng. The rotation ls ¦
23 contlnued to complete the moldlng as ls illustrated ln Flg. IE.
24 In the rorwatlon Or lndi~ldual capplng sheets rrom a
parent strip Or material, re~erence 19 made to Fl~s. 3, and 8
26 through 83. A supply roll 13 ls provlded ror a continuous
2J supply of parent strlp materlal 14, such as the aforementloned
28 lead or metal roil. An auxlliary supply roll 16 ls also prov~ded
- 29 from whlch a 3trip materlal may be wlthdrawn when 3upply ro71 13
31
32 11 _
4016
is exhausted. Switching from one supply roll to the other and
vice versa is effected by any suitable means commonly employed
in the feeding of webs from a parent roll, and forms no part of
the instant invention. The strip material, as is conventional,
passes over idler rolls 17 and is continuously withdrawn from
supply roll 13 by suitable constantly driven feed roll 18,
cooperating with a spring pressed freely rotatable pressure
roll 18 ; a conventional form of dancer mechanism 19 being
provided to maintain tautness or take up slack in the strip.
As the strip 14 is being constantly and continuously
driven it is served into individual sheets or sections 6 by
means of a rotary shear 21 acting against a stationary shear 22
positioned ahead of continuously rotatable suction drum 23. The
suction drum grips a leading edge of the strip before it is cut
into a sheet by means of cooperating shears 21 and 22; a rubber
pressure roll 24 cooperating with vacuum drum 23. .
As previously noted, the severed sheets for making
caps are formed into tubular cylindrical form wherein opposite
edges of each sheet are secured together in a manner which will
be explained later in detail. Adhesive is applied to the outer
face of the trailing edge of each successive capping sheet 6
while on vacuum drum 23, by adhesive applicator means indicated
generally by reference numberal 26, The vacuum drum operates to
grip successive capping sheets 6 and to release them,
respectively, to a succession of cylindrical mandrels 27 which
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1~40~6
l I are rotatable about thelr axe~ by mechanism to be descrlbed so
2 ¦ that as the re~pective mandrels are rotated 3heet~ 6 become
3 ¦ wrappad around them to form the cylindrlcal sleeves 6; the
4 ~ ~andrels each havlng suction means to grip the leadlng zdge o~
6 I successive s~rlps and release the sheets from the vacuu~ dru~,
6 ¦ suctlon on ths mandrels bein8 relieved when t~e sleeve~ have
~ ~ been for~ed.
8 ¦ ~e~erence is made to schematic Figs. 2 and-3, and to
9 ¦ Figs. 2A and 2B for an explanation of the sleeve formation and
10 ¦ prefor~ation o~ the cap~. Mandrel~ 27 are all o~ the same
11 ¦ length and ars carrled at the same elevatlon for orbltal
12 ¦ movement by a rotary turret 28 that also carries platfor~s 29
13 ¦ mounted ~or up and do-~n movement or elevation. A continuou~
14 ¦ succession of bottles 2 ls conveyed by conveyor 31, and are
¦ equally spaced apart ln a conventional manner by a rotary
16 ¦ screw 32. They are transferred onto platrorms 2~ by means Or -
17 ¦ a star wheel 33.
18¦ As can be seen rrom Flg. 3, turret 28, and con3equently
19 ¦ mandrel~ 27 and the platforms 29 which are allned wlth the
20¦ respectlve ~andrels, are orbltally rotated ln a clockwlse -
21 ¦ dlrectlon. But ln Plg. 2, because lt 18 a strstched out view
22 ¦ loo~lng from the outslde ln, mandrels 27 and platrorms 29 ars
~31 shown moving $rom rlght to left. The rlght-hand mandrel 27 in
24 ¦ Flg. 2 deplcts the sltuatlon wherein an edge o~ capplng sheet 6
25 ¦ has not yet been grlpped by a longltudinally extendlng apertured
~¦ portlon 41 which co~pr1ses a perforated lnsert of suitable
27¦ materlal, such as rubber, whlle the mandrel adJacent thereto
28 lllustrates an edge o~ a capplng ~neet 6 gripped by the
¦ mandrel. As the mandrel is rotated about lts axls, the sheet
becomes wrapped around lt as can be seen from ~lg. 8; yieldable
31
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I I pre~ure 15 appll~d to capplng sheets 6 by bru~h structure
2 co~prlslng brushes 42. ~he means ror rotatlnz the mandrels
3 ¦ about thelr axea as they are orbitally mo~ed by turret 28 ln
4 I axlal allnement wlth the respectlve bottles, comprlses a gear 43
~ carried by each mandrel engaglng a statlonary arcuate rack 44;
6 the rack beinO f a length sufficient to effect complete wrapping
7 ~ Or a capplng sheet into cylindrical form about the mandrel.
8 I After such wrapping and after a gear 43 leaves rack 44, a sprlng
9 I pressed ball 45 (Fig. 6B) engageable in a detent 45 holds the
IO ¦ mandrel against axial rotation wlth aperturod portion 41 ln
1 I proper fixed position for gripplng the leading edge Or another
12 I capping sheet 6 conveyed thereto.
I3 ¦ Each mandrel carries a sleeve stripping ring 46
14 ¦ mounted for up and down slidable movement axially o~ the mandrel;
15¦ and as can be noted rrom Flgs. 2A and 2B the ring carrle~
r~'- pivotally mounted sleeve stripping ~ingers 47, and al30 a serie~
l7 1 Or spaced apart creaslnOg blade~ 48. When the sleeve has been
18¦ completely cyllndrically ~ormed, stripplng ~ingers 47 are
I9¦ automatlcally actuated ln a downward posltion of stripping ring
20¦ 46, indlcated at position P ln Fig. ?~ to sllp ~leeve 6 Or~ Or
2I the mandrel and over the neck Or a bottle 2. Althou~h the
2ZI mandrels are continuou~ly moved at a constant or flxed elevation,
231 strlpping rlngs 46 are moved downwardly and then upwardly by
24 means Or cam rollower rollers 49 engaglng a cam trackway 51. The
25 ¦ cam has a downwardly sloping portion 52 during which the rlng 46
26 ¦ mov2s downwardly, which leads to a short horizontal portlon 53
27 whereat the ring remalns at the lower end Or the mandrel rOr a
28¦ dlstance. Portion 53 leads to an upwardly sloplng portion 54 by
29 whlch ring 47 1~ moved upwardly, and remains in the upper
- 30 po~ltlon rOr the rest Or the travel or the mandrel until lt
31 arrives again at down~ardly sloping portion 52.
32 .
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1 I At po~itlon Pl, the sleeve has baen slipped completely
2 I Orr the mandrel wlch the strlpping flngers 47 co~pletel~y
3 ! disengaged therefrom. As can be Aeen be3t rrom Fig. 23,
4 ¦ creasin~ fingers 48 effect the aforementioned lnward creasin~ 9
at positlon Pl about perlpheral?y spaced apart locatlon3 alon~
6 the upper edge of the sleeve so that such upp_r edge portlon
7 becomes turned or bent inwardly over,the top stoppered end of
8 the bottle. This commences the preformln~ operation of 'h_
9 sleeve over the neck and top end o~ the bottle. ~ne successlve
bottles are carried by the a~orementloned platrorms 29 ~n
11 alinement with the respectlve mandrels at the same elevatlon
-12 up through positlon Pl.
13 Ths lo~er end of eac'n mandrel 27 is formed with a
14 pyramidal or conically shaped mold cavity 61 (Fig. 2B) by which
the upper end o~ ths sleeve over the bottle neck is completely
18 bent inwardly lnto pyramldal shape over the 5 ~oppered en o~
17 the bottle, after the lnitial lnward bending by th_ creasing
18 fingers. This preformation ~imultaneously with ~urther
19 creaslng pre~ormation of the sleeve over ths neck of the
bottle 18 erfected ln the ~ollowing manner.
21 Platforms,29 are rlgldly mounted on rods 62 slidably
22 mounted in sleeves 63; the rods carrylng at their lower ends
~3 ca~ follower rollers 64 which rlde oYer a cam 65 rl~ed to the
24 ~rame o~ the appar~tus. Cam 66 has a sll~htly up-~ardly
lncllned rlse portlon 67 and a horizontal portlon 68. The
2~ re3pectlve bottles as tbey are orbltally moved, are thus
27 elevated gradually a8 cam ~ollower r~ller~ 64 rlde over
28 elevated portion 67 of the ca~. Such gradual elevation
29 commence~ at positlon P2 next to po3ition Pl; and at posltion P2
31
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I ¦ the par~lally ta~ered end of tho sleeve 6 15 in3erted lnto mold
2 ¦ cavity 61. It ls r~lsed rurther and is rurther crease~ along
3 ¦ it~ lsngth as lt 13 ralsed, as ls lllustrated ln posltion P3.
4 ¦ At the next posltion P4 rlng 46 1~ elevated by the
5 ¦ cam mea~ 49, 54 but sirce the upper end portion Or sleeve 6
6 ¦ has been pre3sed into engagement in mold cavity 61 it ls
7 ¦ co~pletely formed lnto the conlcal shape,shown in Flg. 13 and
8 1 whlch ls illustrated at posltion P~ in Fig. 2. Thus, pre-
9 ¦ ~or~atlon Or sleeve 6 to confor~ partlally to the shape o~ the
lO 1 bottle neck and bottle stopper ha~ been completed.
11 ¦ With partlcular re~erence to Fig. 2B, it wlll be
12 ¦ noted ~ro~ the abo~e that lnward crea~ing of sleeve 6 commence~
¦ berore the sleeve is pressed into mold cav~ty 61. m is initial
14 ¦ creasing decrease~ the sleeve d~ameter at its top end. Hence,
15 1 tha sleeve can be inserted into mold cavity 61 even though the
__ ¦ in~ide dla~eter Or the sleeve berore the creaslng is ef~ected,
17¦ is substantislly equal to the outslde diameter of mandrel 27.
18¦ All the roregolng preformatlons Or the respectlve
1 sleeve~ 6 to conform partially to the shape Or the bottle neck
and the stopper end Or the bottle, ls accomplished in rotary
21 turret 28 which rorm~ the second sectlon o~ the machine The
22 rlnal ~oldlng Or the partlally prefor~ed sleeve to the shape
23 Or the bottle neck and lts stopper end 1~ effected ln a second
24 turret 71 to whlch the bottles having the preshaped caps
2S thereon are transferred from turret 28 to turret 71 by means Or
26 another conventlonal star wheel 72.
27 ~he moldlng Or the cap~ 1~ schematically illustrated
28 in Flgs. 2C and 3. As with respect to Flg. 2, Fig. 2C reads
29 rrom r~ght to lert because the section line 2C - 2C in Fl~. 3
31
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;, ~ 84016 ~
I i~ lookln~ from the outslde in. Fixed ror rotation with
2 turret 71 a-e a plurallty Or platrormj 73 mounted for up and
3 down mo~l~m2nt by mean~ of cam follower rollers 74 ridlng on a
4 cam 76 Cam 76 has t-~o rise portion~ 77 and an elevate~
horizontal portion 78. Platforms 73 are ~ounted ~or rotation
6 about th_ir respectlve axes, and rotatab~e with the pla'for~
7 are gears 79. ~lght arter cam follo-~er rollers 74 engz~s
8 elevated horlzontal portion 78 of cam 76, gears 79 enga~e a
9 statlonary arcuate rack 81 ~hich as th- bottles are con~inuously
moved er~ects rota~ion thereor about their axss on el^vated
11 portlon 78. Turret 71 also carries for rotation thzrewith
12 molding roller structure comprlsi~g spaced apart sets o~ molding
13 rollers 82, one set opposlte each bottle ~hlch is trans~erred
14 onto turret 71.
1 Also~ turret 7i carr~e~ housings 83 in alinement with
r~' 16 the top ends of the respective bottles having the prefo~med
17 caps; and a mold cavity 84 ls slidably and rotatably mounted in
18 the housing, belng spring pressed do-~n~ardly by mean~ o~ a
19 sprlng 8~. Mold cavity 84 ls rigid wlth a ~hart 87 ext~nding
through the top wall of housing 83 which formq an abut~.ent for
21 the spring ~6; and shart 87 carries a gear 88 engageable wlth
22 an arcuate rack 89 fixed to the rrame Or the turret.
23 From the preceding lt is seen that the moldir~
24 roller~ 82 are initially spaced apart sufficlently so that a
bottle nec~ may enter therebetween; and in the posltlon P~
26 shown in Flg. 2C, a bottle 2 ls belo-~ the houslng 83 and belo~
27 the set of moldlng rollers 82. From this posltion, th_ bottle
28 i8 ralsed as plat~or~ 73 i~ elevated along cam rlse 77, whlch
29 results in the uppsr or stopper end o~ the pr_ror~ed caps to be
pressed lnto engagement in mold cavity ~4 as is lllustrated at
31 position P7.
32
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1 Upon ~urther travel o~ the bottle along elevated
2 ' horlzontal portlon 7~ Or the cam and wh~le the bottle is
3 ¦ resillently clamped between plat~orm 73 and mold cavlty 84,
4 gear 79 in engagement wlth rack 81 and gear 88 in engagement
~ with rack 89 cause the bottle to be ro~ated a~out lt~ axis in
6 unlson wlth mold cavity 84 which rotates within housing 83. As
7 the bottle ls continuously moved further along cam 76, the
¦ 8 rreely ~ournalled rollers 82 are moved lnwardly by ~ieldable
i pres-~ure means to be described later, and clamped against thè
. I _ ....
n-ck Or the bottle.
11 Thus it is seen that rollers 82 are not rotated by
12 positive drlve means but being freely ~ournall~d, they may
assume a neutral position; and at the sa~e time the snd o~ the
14 sleeve bent inwardly over the bottle stopper is ~lattened at 12
to conror~ to the shape Or the stoppered bottle end as is
16 shown in Fig. lC. At the time platform ~3 arrlves at the end
l7 Or elevated portion 78 of the cam, at position P8, rollers 82
18 Or the respectlve sets are moved out Or engagement wlth ths
19 bottle neck to their lnitlal position for rscelvlng another
bottle thsrebetween, upon rurther orbital rotation Or turret 71,
21 a~ i9 shown at positlon P9. m e completely capped bottle
22 having the cap molded over the bottle neck and stopper end ls
23 moved by turret 71 to another star wheel 91~ (~ig. 3) which
24 trans~ers the capped bottle to conveyor 31.
2~ m e molding roller arrangement is an important aspect
26 Or the lnvsntlon, and will be descrlbed ln greater dsta~l later
2~ together with other features Or the apparatus which have been
29 described generally.
31
32 - 18 -
Il .. ... .. ............. _ .. _~ . ....... _.. _ _ .. . .. ...... _. _ _.. .__.. _ .. , .
.. ,: , . . . .
~. ' :: . ' .
. . 1~)84016
1 ¦ Adheslve A~llcation and ~acuu~ Drum
2 ¦ Referring again to Figs. 8, 8A and 8B, although any
3 ¦ Ruitable means may be employed for applylng adhesive to the
4 ¦ outer face of a capping sheet 6 , a preferred form compriseY
5 ¦ adhesive applicator roller 101 rotatably mounted on a bracket 102
6 ¦ by mean~ of ~ournalled shaft 103 carrying a gear 104 meshing
7 ¦ with drive gear 106 carried by drive shart 107 about which
8 ¦ bracket 102 can pivot; drive shaft 107 being driven by spr~cket
9 ¦ and chaln connection 108 from ~ha~t 109 wh~ch drtves suctlon .
10 ¦ drum 23. Hot melt adhe~ive is continuously circulated through
11¦ a passageway 111 in a block 111 fixed to pivoted bracket 102.
12¦ Passage~ay 111 communicates wlth an inlet passage 112 and with
~3¦ an outlet pas~age 113 connected to conduits 114 in turn
14 connected to a hot melt reservoir 115 (Fig. 3) contalning
suitable pumping mean~ for circulatlng th_ hot melt.
16 Adhe~ive applicator roll 101 is provided with a
17 serie~ o~ transversely extending diametrically oppo~ite
18 per~oration~ 116 whlch, a~ the roll i~ rotated, wipe past
19 pas~age 111. Consequently adhesive 18 thu~ transrerred to
roll 101, which applies it to the outer face of the trailing
21 edge portion of each succes~ive capping ~heet 6 while on the
22 3uctlon dru~. The adhe~ive applicator which, a~ previously
23 indicated, is mounted ~or pivotal movement is brought lnto and
24 out of engagement with the ~uccesslve capping sheets at tna
2~ proper time by means or an actuator 117 whlch may be o~ any
26 sultable electro-magnet construction operated at properly timed
27 interval~. In thi~ conn~ctlon, it will be noted that ~lnce
28 pas~age 111 is in block 111 ~ecured to the same brac~et 102 a~
29 applicator roll 101 18 mounted, the roll contlnuou31y enzages
over passage 111 ~o that adhesiYe ls only transferred to
3~ perforatlons 116 when they pass by pas~age 111.
32
-- 19 --
Il . .. . .......... .. _ _ _. .. _ , . .. .
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I ~ 1840l6
I ¦ The above describ2d adhosive appllcator ls prePerred
! 2 ¦ Por hot melt adhesive appllcation but any oth~r type of
3 ¦ appllcator, such as disclosed ln applicant~s aPore.~entioned
4 applicatlon may be e~ploysd.
5 ! Vacuum Dru~
6 After adhesive is applied to the outer face Or the
7 traillng edge of the respectiYe capping sheets 6 , trans~erred
8 ¦ to vacuun dr~m 23, the sheets are continuou31y conv~yed by th~
9 ¦ drum to the successive ~andrels 27. Vacu~ dr~ 23, as can be
seen best from Fi3s. 8 and 8B, is of m~re or less conventlonal
Il structure common to labeling apparatus. Generally, it comprises
12 a cylindrical rotor 121 having radial passages 122 communicating
13 with transversely extending passages 123 ln the perlphery oP
14 the rotor. Rotor 121 ls ~ourn~lled for rotation about a stator
15¦ plate 124 which has an arcuate passage 12~ to whlch suction ls
__ applied Prom a suitable source through a conduit 127.
17 1 mus~ the gripped capping sheets are held to the
18 periphery o~ the drum by application oP suction as they pas~ by
19 passage 12~. Passage 126 termlnates (the right-hand portlon
appaarlng in Fig. 8) adJacent succes~ive mandrels 27 as they
2l are continuously moved 90 that at such locatlon indicated by
2? reference letter L ln Flg. 8, the leadlng edge portion Or each
23 successive capplng sheet 6 can be trans~erred to the mandrel by
24 axially extendlng aperture portlon 41 o* the mandrel to ~hich
suctlo~ 19 applied. To Pacllltate such transfer, plate 124 has
26¦ an aperture 128 open to ths atmosphere and communlcating wlth a
27 transversely extending slot 129 in the perlph_ry of plate 124.
28 When a radlal passage 122 passes by slot 129, the vacuum thu3
- 29 becomes lneP~ectlve so that the leading edge or a capping
301
31 ;
32 - 20 - ,
.
1f)8401~
1 she~t 6 may be picked up quickly by ~uction applied to the
2 mandrel 27 and transferred thereto. If desired, passage 128 may
3 be connected to a continuous source Or pressure to ~urther
4 ennance the transrer.
After such transfer to a mandrel has been effected
6 and the mandrel contlnuously conveyed while it is ro~ated about
7 its axis, th~ capping shee~ 19 formed into a cylindric~l sleeve
8 about the mandrel, as previously pointed out, and such formation
9 is Pacilitated by the yleldable brush structur2 42 comprlsing a
plurality of spaced apart brushes. After a sleeve 6 has be~n
Il completely ~ormed on the right-hand mandrel 27 appearlng in
12 Fig. 8, a spring pressed pressure roll 131 ~ournalled on a
13 pivotally mounted lever 132 anchored to coil spring 133> applie~
14 pre~sure to the bonded edges of sleeve 6 to insure complete
lS bonding by the adhesive.
16 Mandrel Structure
~7 As was previou31y discu~sed, the ~uccessive bottle~
18 are conveyed in axial alinement with the respective mandrels 27,
19 and sleeves formed on the mandrels are prefor~ed on the necks
o~ the bottles. ~urther detalls are best shown in Figs. 5, and
6 through 6B. Rotary turret 28 which conYeys the successive
22 bottles and mandrels comprlses a bottom plate 141 fixed to a
23 hub 142 keyed to drlve shaft 143 whlch is ~ournalled ln a
24 statlonary spider 144, and also in a hub 145 fixed to the ba~e
o~ the turret. It al~o comprlses an upper plate 146 flx~d to
26 hub 147 also keyed to the drive shaft 143 so that both plates
27 141 and 146 rotate in uni~on. Upper plate 146 carrles ths
28 mandrols 27 while lo~er plate 141 carrls~ the bottle supportlng
29 platforms 29. As can be seen best from Flg. 5 each platform 29
31
32 - - 21 - `
Il . . _ _ . ... , _ ... _ . _._. ~_
.
11 ~ns4016
I has an arcuate bottle retalnlng arm 14~ which cooper~tes with
2 ¦ station~ry arcuate gulde rings 149 to retaiD the bo'tlea in
3 relatlvely flxed posltlon on the platror~s as they are conveyed.
4 ¦ Rererrlng to Figs. 5, and 6 through 6B, lt wlll bs
5 ¦ notad that each mandrel 27 is a cylindrical shaft whlch has an
6 axially extending passage 161 exten~ing thsrethrough communl-
7 catlng with a laterally extendlng passage 162 n-ar the bottom
8 ¦ whlch ln turn communlcates wlth the apertured portion 41 which
9 ¦ grips the leading edge of each cap formlng sheet. The upper
10¦ end of each mandrel shaft 27 has a reduced spindle portion 163
11¦ ~ournalled in a bearlng block 164 integral}y flxad with upper
12¦ plate 146 Or turret 28; and the aforementioned gear 43 ls fix2d
~31 to mandrel shaft 27. Block 164 has a lateral exten310n 164 ln
1~¦ whlch i8 slidably mounted a rod 166 which carrles at i~s lo-~er
~¦ end the aforementloned stripping ring,46, and at its upper end
--- 16¦ the aforementioned cam follower roller 49. Thus the stripplng
17¦ rlng 46 18 ~iidably mounted for up and down movement as cam
follower roller 49 travels over cam trackway 51.
19 Suction is applled through passage 161 ln the
fo~lowing manner. Each splndle 163 o~ mandrel 27 carrles at lts
21¦ upper end a rotary union seal 167 Or conventional constructlon,
22¦ whlch when moved orbitally together wlth the mandrel permits
23 axlal rotatlon of the mandrel during the portlon of lts orbltal
2~ movement ln turret 28 whereln gear 43 engagas statlonary rack 44.
Union 167 18 connected by a conduit 168 to a rotary valve 1
26¦ which has a stator 171 and a rotor 172, as 18 lllustrated ln
27 Flg. 8. The respectlve conduits 168 connected to the re~pectlve
28¦ mandrels 27 are al~o connec'ed to rotor 172 80 that they rotate
29 ln unison with the mandrels.
, ' ,
31 '
321 - - 2~ - '
.... ...... ,......... ;....... .. .. ,
, ', '
15184016
1 I Stator 171 has an arcu~te peripheral passa~e 173
2 ¦ whlch is connocted by a conduit 174 to a constant vacuu~ source
3 ¦ (not 3ho~n). Thus as rotor 172 pass2s over stator passage 173
4 ¦ suctlon ls applied to the respectlve mandrels 27 only as long
6 ¦ as the conduits 168 connected thereto co.~unicate wlth passage
6 ¦ 173 but whon the conduits are in seallng relatlon3hip with
7 ¦ stator 171, the suction is not appl~ed or in other words
8 ¦ relleved, so that a sleeve for~ed on the mandrel can be slioped
g ¦ O~r the mandrel and transferred to a bottle. T~e passa~e 173
10 ¦ is of such length that suction is applled during the perlod
1l ¦ that the respecti-Je mandrels are ax1ally rotated as they engage
12 ¦ statlonary rack 44 to cause a capping sheet to be wound about
13 ¦ the mandrol to *orm a sleeve.
¦ Creasln~ ~lades and St.l~pin~ Fin~ers
15 ¦ With particular re~erence to Flgs. 2A, 2B, and 6
16 ¦ through 6B, it will be noted that each Or the aforementioned
17 ¦ creasing blades 48 whlch are mounted on a ~tripplng rlng 46 ~or
18 ¦ ln and out mo~vement, is pivotally mounted at 181 adJace~t lts
19 ¦ lower end ln rlng 46. ,Each blade comprlse3 an upwardly
20 ¦ extendlng lnner creaslng edge 182 and an outwardly and upwardly
21 ¦ extendlng,cam edge 1~3 engageable with the, lower ed~e o~ the ,
22 ¦ mandrel in the downward posltlon thereof as shown ln Flg. 2B.
~-31 A ~llde bearlng 184 ls ~ormed between such edges, which can ride
24¦ agalnst the outer surfac2 of mandrel 27 as the rlng mo~JeS up
25¦ and down along'ths mandrel. ~eans 13 provided *or resilientl~
2~¦ ur~lng the creaslng blades inwardly comprlsing a garter sprlng
27 ¦ 186 engaging the upper ends of the blades.
28 ¦ From the precedlng, lt ls seen that when ring 46 18
29¦ ~oYed to a downward positlon whereat sllde bearing 184 ls below
301 the b~ase o* mold cavlty 61, creaslng edges 182 are thrust
311
-371
- 23 -
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~1 1')84016
1 in~ardly by the spring 1~6 to commence the format~on of the
2 aforemention2d creasos 9 as i9 depicted in Fig. 2~ which shows
3 the lnltial formation Or ~uch crease~. When slide bearlng~ 184
4 ¦ engage the outsr surfaces of mandrel 27, creaslng edges 182 are
5 ¦ malntained out of engagement with the mandrel. In this
6 ¦ connection, the aforementioned arrangement of cam surfaces 52,
7 ¦ 53 and 54 i~ su~h that ~he respective rings 46 are moved up and
¦ down in properly timed relationship with movement of the bottles.
9 I StriPpin~ ~in~ers
10 ¦ Stripping fingers 47 are each secured to a pivot
11¦ shaft 191 and compri~es a do~rnwardly extending ar~ 192 carrylns
I buttons 193, de~irably of rubber, to engage a sleeve formed on
13¦ the assoclated mandrel 27 and remove the same therefrom.
14¦ Secured to the left-hand plvot shaft 191 appearing in ~lg. 6 is
15¦ an arm 194 engaglng in a recess l9o in ~orked arm 197, which is
16¦ secured to the right-hand plvot shaft ln Fig. 6. ~J such
17¦ arrangement, ~tripping fingers 47 which are opposite eacb other,
18¦ can be moved ln~ardly simultaneou~ly to engage a sleeve 6 on
19¦ the mandrel and thus effect the strlpping, and to be moved
20¦ outwardly simultaneously ~o as to be dlsengaged from the mandrel
21¦ after the stripping actlon. A spring pres~ed ball l9ô 18
22 ¦ adapted to engage either one of a pair of detents 199 in arm 197
23 ¦ to hold the stripping flngers 47 in either engaged or dise~gaged
24¦ relationship with respect to the a~sociated mandrel 27.
2~ ¦ Means i8 provlded ~or er~ecting such engaged or
26 ¦ dlsengaged relationshlp in properly timed relationship .~lth
27 ¦ movement o~ the sleeved bottles. Such means comprises a cam
28 button 201 on each oE the upper and lower faces of the forked
301 . '.
311 '
32 ¦ r 24 _ -
`~ ~ il ~
lt)~O16
I ar~ 197 appearing ln Flg. 6. Normally strlpping ~lngers 47 2re
2 ¦ in dlsengaged relation~hip when the bottle~ are conve~ed at
3 ¦ their normal elevation. ~owever, at the proper tlm~, when 2
4 rlng 46 on an assoclated mandrel 47 is inltially lowered by ca~
surrace ~2 (positlon P in Fig. ?) an alr cylinder 202 (Fig. 5)
6¦ which is at a fixed location and is connect~d to a le-/er 203
7 carrJing a cam 204, is actuated to engage lo~er ca~ button 201
8 and thus effect engagement Or stripping ~ingor butto.nsl93 -~ith
9 the top end Or the sleeve on the mandrel; tho detent holdlng
the strippin~ ~ingers ln engaged pcsition. As the rir.g 46 ls
1- rurther low2red, sleeve 6 is thus slipp~d of~ 0l the mandrel
12 over the bottle nec~. When the sleeve h~s been completely
13 strlpped from a mandrel, and the bottle has ~een moved orbi~ally
14 away from cam 204, strippin~ ringers 47 are actuated to dis-
engaged position by means of the upper cam button 201 (Fig. 6)
_ ¦ engaging the under~ide of a statior.ary cam 206 shown in Figs. 3
~7¦ and 5; stationary cam being ~ixed to stationary spider 144.
18 In this connection, it w~ll bP recalled that after the
. inward creasing Or the end portions of the sleeve3 and strlpplng
20¦ o~ the sleeves fro~ the mandrels prevlously explained, and after
21 pressing of the top ends or the sle~ves into mold cavlties 61 at,
22 ¦ the lo~er ends Or the mandrels, the thus preformed sleeves on
23 the bottle are continuou~ly conveyed by means o~ star wheel 72
24¦ into the molding section C Or the apparatu~
Moldin~ Sectlon
26 ¦ Wlth particular rersrence to Fig3. 2C, 3, 4, and 7
27 through 7G, the moldin$ section C comprlses an upper turr~t
228 plate 311 and a lower turret plate 312 both o~ whlcA are keyed
.
311
32 - 2? ~
.... ...._. .... ..
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:. , - : , '
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.
4016
I ¦ to a drlve ~ha~t 313 so as to be rotatable therewit.1. Such
2 sha~t is ~ournalled ror rotation ln a fixed lo~er hub 314 form
3 on the base 316 Or the apparatus. Also, it ls Jou.n-~lled ln
4 lts upper end ln a non-rotatable hub 317 anchored to the rrame
~ of the machine and connected to spaced apart cam plates
6 Comprl3ing lower plate 318 and upper plate 319 between which
J i~ a brace plate 321 to provide rlgidity. Such cam plates rorr
8 part Or the actuating means ror the aforem2ntioned molding
9 rollers 82 and wlll be descr~bad in rurther detall Iater. As
can be seen from Pig. 7E, tne cam pla~e structurs 318, 319 1
Il anchor2d again~t rotatlon by torque llnk 320 connected to a
12 frams portlon 320 o~ the apparatus.
13 Rlgidly secured to the describod cam plate structure
14 318, 319 is a bracket 322 which carries thP a~orementioned
arcuate rlxed rack 89 meshing wlth gear 88 whlch ln conjunctlon
l~ wlth gear 7y and arcuate rack 7g (Flg. 7) e~rect rotatlon Or
,-- 17 bottle 2 about it3 axis during a portion or its orbital travel,
18 as wa~ previously explalned.
19 Upper turret plate 311 carries a pair o~ plvot sha~ts
323 and 323 displaced arcuately, each Or which is Journalled
21 in a hub 32~ lntegral wlth turret plate 311. Secured to the
22 ~ront plvot sha~t 323 as they appear ln ~igs. 7A and 7D is a
23 sleeve 326 whlch extends above a ~lmllar sleeve 327 secured to
24 the rear pivot shart 323 . Rear sleeve 327 carrles an ar,m 328
on whlch is Journalled a cam follower,roller 329 whlch rldes
26 over rix2d lo~er cam plate 318. Slmilarly rront sleeve 326
2J carries an arm 331 on whlch 1~ ~ournalled a second cam ~ollower
28 roller 332 whlch rldeo- over ths cam sur~ace of upper cam plate
29 319. These cam rollers 329 and 332 are urged lnto engagement
301
32 1 ~ - 26 -
...... . , . . .
Il . ~
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',
,~ .
1084016
!
1 w~th the ca~ ~ur~aces Or plates 318 and 319, respPctively, by
2 sprlngs 333 conn-cted at th~ir rear ends, respPc~lvely, to the
3 arm 328 which is secured to rear 31eeve 327 and to an arm 32
4 rlxed to the rront sleeve 326; the opposlte ends OL such sprln&
being anchored by plns 334 ~ixed to upper turret plate 311
Extend~ng outwardly from the lowor end oP plvot
7 shart 323 and connected thereto by means o~ hub 336 13 an a~
8 3 y which carrles a moldlng roller structu~e 82. S~mllarly,
9 fixed for pivotal movement wlth the othar plvot sha-'~ 323 1s
an arm 338 whlch carries a second mold~ng roller struc~ure 82
11 cooperable with the other prevlously mentloned roller 82 ln a
12 manner to be descrlbed later.
13 ~rom the pracedlng, it ls seen that the moldlng roller
14 mountlng structure provldes a pair of pivoted bell cranX
structures which by means o~ sprlngs 333 contlnually urge the
,_ 16 opposite rollers o~ each set o~ molding roll~rs 82 toward a
17 posltion for engaging the bottle as can be seen ~rom Flg. 7D.
18 The cam plate structure 318, 319 provides means ~or allowlng
19 the molding-rollers 82 to be spaced apart to receive a bottle
therebetween; and ln tlmed relationshlp with mo~ement of the
. ?I turret they bring the roller3 into molding engagement with the
22 prerormed cap on the contalner.
23 As can be.seen best from ~igs. 7E and 7~, tne cam
24 plates 318 and 319 have a profile ln the form o~ arcs Or a
2~ clrcle ~o that the cam ~ollower roller~ 329 and 332 can,
26 respectively, rlde thereover to maintain the r2spective sets Or
27 rollers 82 spaced apart to recelve a bottle therebet-~aen.
2B ~owever at the locatlons where a bottle 2 ~s to be recelved
29 bet-~een moldlng rollers 82, cam edge 319 has an inwardly sloping ¦
port1on 341 and cam edge 318 has a simllar ~nwardly sioping
31 portlon 342. -
32l
!1 - 27 - ll
.
.~ . ~ ~
~084016
1 Slopl~g portlons 341 and 342 are angularly dlsplac~d
2 to t~o extent that as cam follower rollers 329 and 332,
3 re~pectively, are moved orbitally they eng~ge these portions
4 slmultaneou31y to erfect slmultaneous inward move.~ont of the
S moldlng rollers 82 under the actlon o~ sprin3s 333 to thus
6 clamp against the contalner neck as is seen f`ro.~ Flg. ?F. In
7 this clamping pos~tion, it will be noted that t~e cam arrange-
8 ment is such that art2r the clamping rollers are brought ~nto
9 engage.~ent with the contair.er neck they do not en~age against
the cam surfaces o~ plates 318 and 319 ~o that during the
Il clamping they have unrestrained clamping pressur~ against the
12 container neck. This can be readlly erfected by predetermlning
13¦ the dlameter of the circular portions Or the cam surraces o~
14 plates 318 and 319. At a posltion approximatel~ 180 degr~es
opposite the sloping edges 341 and 342, as can be seen from
1~ Flg. 7E, rise portions 343 are provlded to move the molding
~ 17 rollers apart arter the molding operation has been comple~ed.
18 A~ previously related, when the bottles wlth the
19 prerormed cap~ thereon are lntroduced or copveyed into the
molding section C, they are received on platPor~s 73 which are
21 then elevated as the turret rotates, into clamptng engagement
22 wlth thP re3pective mold cavltie~ 84 which 3hape tho sleeve to
23 the stoppered end Or the bottle. For this purpose, each arore-
24 mentioned platror~ 7-3 is supported on the upper end of a shart
351 (Fig. 7) ~ournalled for rotation in a hub 352 and whlch
26 carrlos at its lower end gear 79 engageable wtth the a~ore-
27 mentionod arcuate rack 81 whlch i3 rixsd to the support for the
28 arorementloned cam 76 over which cam roller 74 travels. ~oller
29 74 i8 ~ournalled on a bracket 353 rigld wi~h an extension 354
30 ¦ or hub 352.
31 .
32 - 28 - .
.
~ 40~6
Hub 352 and extension 352 are rigid with a slide bar
356 slidable up and down in a trackway 357 which is fixed to
the periphery of rotatable turret plate 312.
By this arrangement, each bottle 2 when received from
rotary turret 28 onto a platform 73 can be elevated from a lower
position to an upper position tshown in Fig, 7~ wherein it
becomes clamped between platform 73 and mold cavity 84, and then
can be lowered after the cap has been molded to conform to the
shape of the bottle neck, In this connection, it will be noted
that each bottle 2 is completely elevated by cam roller 74
riding over the right-hand rise portion 77 of cam 76 (appearing
in Fig. 2Cl before gear 79 is raised to the same elevation as
rack 81, to thus enable ready meshing of the gear with the rack.
For retaining each bottle 2 in relatively fixed
position on the associated platform 73, outer quide rails 357
are provided which are supported on uprights 358 fixed to base
316 of the apparatus. Also, for the sa~e purpose, inner
cradles 359 are provided which are rigidly secured to the
aforementioned slide bar 356.
Referring back to mold cavity 84 and associated
elements, it will be noted from Figs. 7 and 7A that housing 83
in which it is rotatable and slidably mounted, is fixed to the
outer end of upper turret plate 311; and spring 86 interposed
between the head of the mold cavity and the top abutment wall
of housing 83 bears against rotatable thrust bearing 361. Thus,
when the bottle is elevated it is in rigidly clamped position
but it can be rotated about its axis to effect the complete
molding of the cap so as to conform to the neck of the bottle
- 29 -
bm:~
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~ ; : 1~84016
1 1 a9 was prevlou31y explalned wlth rereron-e to Fig. 2C; an~ it
2 ¦ wlll be noted that after completion Or th- mold~ ng (posltion P8
3 ¦ ln Fi". 2C) the molding roller3 82 are separated as ca~
4 ¦ follower roller 74 rides down the do~nwardly sloping ~ortion 77
5 ¦ of cam 76; the operation being effected by the aforementlonad
6 cam slop~s 343 (Fig. 7E).
7 Moldln~ Roller Arran~,ement
B The molding roller3 structure of each set is shap~d
9 to conro~m to the configuratlon of he tap-red neck of tne
10 bottle and desirably com3~risas an upper roller 371 and a lower
Il roller 372 at ~ach side of the bottle. The rollers are ~ixed
12 to hub~ 373 which are ~ournalled ror free rotation about
~3 ¦ mountlng spindles 374. It will ba noted that sach pair o~ upper
14 ¦ and lower rollers 371 and 372 are spaced apart and are mounted
15 ¦ ror limlted univer~al movelDent (Fig. 7A~ by nean3 of a pin 376 .
16 I extending from the outer end Or each arm 3y and 338 which
17 ¦ passes loosely through an aperture 377 in the as~ociated
18 ¦ splndle 374. This is for the purpose Or providing a floating
19 ¦ mount ror each pair Or rollers 371 and y2 to facilitate
2~ 1 confor;~ation to tho nsc3c o~ the bottle. InasrDuch as the neck
21 ¦ oi~ the bottle taper~ and 18 consequently Or larger diame*er at
22 ¦ lts lower end than at it~ upper end, enhancement Or conformation
23 ¦ to the neck of the bottle is erfected by varying diameters of
24 1 the rollers; the lower rollers being of lesser diarneter than
25 1 the uppor rollers.
26 ¦ It will also bo noted rrom Figs. 7 and 7~ that ar;ns
27 1 337 ant? 338 are vertlcally staggered, being inclined rrorn the
28 ¦ vertical. mis enables the roller~ to cover a relativ~ly wide
29 1 area as the bottlss drive the same; and from Fig. 7B it ~111 be
301 . , . . . . .
311 ... .
32 1 ~ 3 -
I l . .. . . ... . .. . . . . ... .. . . . .... _ . ..... _ .. . _, .. .
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4016
1 observed that by virtue of thi~ vertical staggerlng, th space
2 j becw~en the upper and the lo~er rollers OL each palr is
3 ¦ trav2rsed by a roller of the other palr. Also, by naving a
4 I plurallty of roller~ which are journalled independently 2 t each
slde of a bottle, this enable3 the rollers to ba driven by ~h~
6 I bottle at di~Perent speeds wlthout tearing the cap formed fro~
7 ¦ ~leeve 6, which would otherwlse occur rro~ the varying dia~eter
8 ¦ o~ the bottle necX.
9 ¦ Also, because of the roller arrangement, tney e~ert
10 ¦ a downward pull on the cap as it is being molded, to further -
11 ¦ enhance ~haplng o~ the cap to conform to the shape o~ the bottle
12 ¦ neck In this connectlon, the rollers are o~ any suitable
13 ¦ materlal which will not tear the capplng material, and yet have
¦ a li~lted give under the yialdlng pres~ure exerted by the
15 ¦ aforementioned resllient means 333. A suitable mater1al ls
16¦ rubber of medium hardness.
17¦ Repeating the molding operation, it ls agaln to be
18¦ noted that the respeetive rollers are not positlvely d~lven.
19¦ m ey ars ~reely Journalled, and when a bottle i~ cl~mped between
20¦ a mold cavlty 84 and a bottle carrying platform 73 in vertlcal
21 ¦ allnement therewlth, lts axial rotatlon 19 e~rected ln the
22¦ manner descrlbed prevlously to thus drlve the rollers by the
23¦ bottle; and by vlrtue.of the llmlted unlversal movement and
241 varying diameter of ths rollers, they can adJust themselYes to
25 ¦ a po~ition ~or e~ectlng tho moldlng wlthout tearlng ~the cap
26¦ materlal.
271 Although a palr of upper an~ lower roller~ 1~ prefer-
28 ably employed at each side o~ the bottle, which are clamped
29 ¦ agalnst the contalner neck in the ~anner de~cribed, the roller3
301 . . ..
311 . .
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~ )84016
I ! may conprlse a set Or three rollers 3al at one slde and a palr
2 I or roll~r~ 382 at the opposita si~eJ as is ~ho~n in Flg. 7~ with
3 the space 383 between the rollers arranOed so that each s~ace is
4 transversed by a roller as th~ rollers are dr~ven by bottle 2.
5 j Drive Mechanis~
6 I Any suitable driving arranse~eni may be employed for
7 operatlng the various driven compon~nts o~ the apparatus ln
8 ¦ properly tim~d relationship. A form o~ drive mechanism which
9 I may be employed is illustrated in Figs. 9 - 9B to which
I0 I rererence is now made. - i
II ¦ The main power source is a conventional electric motor
12¦ 401 whlch through gear box 402 and coupling 403 drives main
13 power shaft 404. Secured to power shaft 404 is a sprocket 406
14 which is connected by chaln drlvs 407 to a sprocket 408 secured
15¦ to a spindle 409 whlch drives th~ aforementloned star wheel 72,
I6¦ and also carrles a gear 411 meshing with a bull gear 143 and
17¦ wlth a second bull gear 313 . Bull gear 143 is secured to
18 aforementloned shaft 143 which drives turret 28, and bull gear
~9¦ 313 19 carrled by a shaft 313 whlch drives turr2t 71. -Gear 411
20¦ also meshes with a gear 412 carrled by stub sha~t 413 whlch
21 ¦ carries a sprocket 414 connected by chaln 416 which drlves a
22¦ sprocket 417 on shart 418 whlch 18 connected to drlve a~ore-
23 mentloned screw conveyor 32.
24I The drlve for maln conveyor 31 ls taken ofr bull gear
251 313 whlch meshes wlth gear 419 carrled by a shaft 421 whlch
26 drlves ~tar whPel 91 and also carrles a sprocket 422 which
27 through chaln drlve 423 drives the sha~t 424 connected to drlve
28 maln conveyor belt 31. me aroremention2d star wheel 33 whlch
29 conveys the bottle~ lnto turret 28 ls drlven from bull wheel 143
meshlng wlth gear 427 secured to shaft 428 to whlch such star
31 wheel is secured.
32
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' I 1~1~4016
I Bull gear 143 also serve3 to drive the aforemen'ionod
2 vacu~ dr~m 23 and feed roller 18 for the continuous strip 14 Or ¦
3 parent ~aterial. For such purpose, gear 143 engages gear 431
4 carrled by a shaft 432. Shaft 432 carries sprocket 433 which
ls connected b~ chain drive 434 to arorementloned shaft 109
whlch drlves vacuum drum 23. Also, shaft 432 carries a gear 437 ¦
7 ln a space between gear 431 and sproc~et 433 which through gear
8 438 on shaft 439 is connected to dr~ve strlp feed roller 18.
9 From the preceding de~criptlon of the drlve mechanism,
lt will be noted that the entlre drive ~echanism continuously
Il operates and drives all the drivable compon2nts Or the apparatus
12 ln synchronlsm. Suitable conventional control mechanls~ may be
13 provlded to interrupt the drive in case of a bottle 2 being
14I missing from a support platform 29 in turret 28 thareror. For
such purpose, as ls schematlcally indlcated ln Flgs. 3 and 5, a
I6 llght source 451 and photo-electrlc cell 452 may be provided
17 whlc~ should a bottle not be in place on a platform 29,
18 automatlcally causes by conventional control means, the drive
19 to slow to idllng speed untll bottle 3upply resumes. In thls
connection the normal speed Or operatlon i9 Up to about 300
21 bottles a mlnute, and the ~low down speed about 20.
22 Likewlse a light source 453 and photo-electrlc cell
23 454 (schematlcally indicated in Figs. 3 and 8) are provided to
24 detect when a capplng sheet 6 ls not ~ed on vacuum drum 23. I~
Z5 sheet~ are in place, light rerlected therefrom will continuously
26 malntaln the drlve through the photo-electrlc cell. ~owever,
27 lr llght is not re~lected (wh~n a sheet i9 not in place) the
28 drlve wlll be slowed down.
31
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:~)84016
l The principles of the invention described in detail
2 above with refercnce to Figures 1 to 9B are also applicable to
3 applying sleeves or labels to containers other than champagne
4 bottles. The invention is applicable generally to the formation
5 of cylindrical slceves on the mandrels 27 by the means described
6 above and illustrated in the drawings, for e~ample in Figures 2
7 and 8; and stripping each sleeve or tube so for~ed off its
8 mandrel onto the neck of a container as described above and as
9 illustrated in the drawings, for example in Figures 2, 2A, 6,
10 6A and 6B. ~;
Il
12 Referring now to Figure 10, which is a duplicate of
~3 Figure 2 as far as the station or position just preceding Pl, it
14 will be seen that the bottles 2A have tapered necks but are not
15 champagne bottles. The manner in which and the m~chanism whereby
16 the sleeves 6 are formed and are transferred from the mandrels
17 27 are identical to the manner and mechanism described above but,
because the sleeves are heat shrunk onto the bottle necks (as
19 described below with reference to Pigure 11~, the creasing
20 blades 48 are omitted together with the mechanism associated
21 therewith, also all other apparatus employed to mechanically
22 shape the sleeves after they have been stripped from the mandrels.
23
24
227 . '' . .
28
29
31 :
32 - 34 -
.
;~; ~401~i
1 The bottles 2A are shown by way of example, and the
2 sleeves 6 are shown as extending s~ightly ab~Ye the tops of the
3 bottles. Shortcr sleeves which terminate bel~w the bottle tops
4 may be formed anr~ applied. ~lso, bottles of other shapes such as,
5 for example, catsup bottles, may be fitted with sleeves. Also,
6 other containers having non-cylindrical configurations may be
7 fitted with sleeves.
The web from which the sleeves are formed will be of a
10 heat shrink method, for example polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride
11 or polystyrene foam rather than a dead set material.
12
13 Referring now to Figure ll, instead of employing
14 mechanical shaping as in Figures 2B, 2C, 7, etc. the containers
1 with tubular but as yet unshaped or unmolded sleeves are conveyed
16 by any suitable means such as a continuous conveyor belt 450 into
17 and through a heat shrink tunnel 451 with the result that the
18 cylindrical sleeves are caused to shrink and to assume the tapered
19 shape of the neck of the containers. Such shrinking will be
20 longitudinal as well as lateral, therefore a sleeve which projects
21 above the bottle top will shrink downwards as well as inwards.
22
23 It will, therefore, be apparent that novel method and
24 apparatus have been provided for applying sleeves, labels and the
25 like to the non-cylindrical portions, e.g. the neck~, of containers
26 such as the tapered necks of bottles; and that the methocl and
27 apparatus are applicable to a wide variety of containers and to
28 mechanic~l and heat shrink shaping operations.
29
31
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