Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 1 62623
-- 1 --
~ckgroi]n~ of th~ l~er.~ on
The-pre~ent invention Ls direct~d to a 6crewcapp:ing
apparatu~. ~n p~r~icular, the invention may be u~ed ~or
screwing pump c~p~ onto containers.
When applylng ~aps to container~ i6 impor~ant that
the Appl^Opri~t~ amoun~ o~ tor~ue bs used to flpply ~he capl
I~ too much to~que ~ applied, the cap or the contaln~r m~y
~reak from the excess~Ye ~rce. I~ too little torque ~ 8
applied, the c~p ~lght not ~e completely ~ecured to the neck
~0 of t~e container. A~ a cap 16 turn~d onto the tl~ren~ ~f` a
container, turnlng i~ rel~tively ~asy unt~l the cap h~ been
completely turned on to the th~eads. At thl~ point ~h~
res~ctAnc~ in~reases quickly. It L~ important here ~ha~ e
appli~ation torquo ~ predet~r~lned.
C~nvention~ pplng m~chinqs a~e known ~n which each
cap is he~d by a chuck and ~urned onto a container. The
contalner~ a~Q held a~d preven~e~ from rotating ~eneath the
c~p~. Typi~ally, the capping chuck~ ~re ind~idually drivsn
~y th~ir ~wn tor~ue li~l~ed drlve. æuC~ a machine ~ay hav~
~0 six or more capping chuck~ on A turret. When a ~i~f~rent
~ize cont~ r or cap ia to be ~s~mbled on ~h2 ma~h$~e, ~ny
t~rque ad~ust~ent would have to ta~e place in e~h vne of
t~o capping ~h~tck~ any ~f the capping chucka ~8
improperly adju~ed, th~ ~ch~n~ opera~or~ w~uld need to
identify w~ich chuck i~ mi~d~ust~d ~nd then correct tho
~uation.
When applying cap~ that ~ave pumps attached ther~to,
the p~p stem 1~ ~e~ igned for eX~6~A ~ ng down into th~
container. Tho ste~ i6 generalLy a flexible plA~tlc tu~c.
30 Before a ~achlne G~n ~crew the ~ap onto a contalner, ~he
pump st~ mu~t ~e ~ r~ed pr~perly into th~ con~ainer. One
~pproa~h to straightening the stem for lnsertion into ~
eontainer is disclo~ed in Unlte~ statea Patent No. 4,9R2,554
~corniani~. corniani d~clo6e~ the u~e of two gripping
35 elemen~s h ld ~oge~her by a heliaal ~pring t~ form a r~la~p.
Each of the ~rippillg element~ ~as a semi-ci~ular rec~s6 ~o
a~ to ~or~ a hol~ thro~gh which the pump t~be ~tem ~s to
2 1 62623
f ~t . The ~rippincl ele~3nt~ ~re open~d an8 clo~d agalnst
the tuhe and then l~wer~d to a low~r portion of the tube.
Ti~e cap i~ then lowered onto the container and the gripping
element 1~ removed from t'*~Q pU~lp tu1~ ~3tem.
Su~ o~ t.hP InYPr tlon
It is an ~ject of the present lnvention to provide ~
~ingl~ ~orque l~elt device for eontrolling the torquo applied
to caps being s~re~ onto contAin~r~. In accord~nce with
the pump placing ap~ara~u~ o~ 3 invontlon, it 18 an cb~ ect
10 to perform pu~4p ~te~ 1itraight~ning with~ut the u~e of a
gripping ~echan~m.
In accor~ance With an ~ odi~ent Or th~3 ~nvention, a
~crew~apping APp~rl~tus lnclude~ mean~ ~or transporting
threaded ol~iects al~ng wi~h ~ ap pol~ed for ~cr~wing onte
15 each threRd~d Ob~ ect. A tor~ue ~elt i~; ori~nted wi~h
re~ ct to the tran~port~r ~o that the cap~ are ~urned by
po~itive enga~ement o~ the cap or lt~ chuck with ~he torque
, belt. The t~rque bol~ i~ dri~en ~y ~ clutoh BO a~ to
prede~er~ne the appli~-~tion torque. A belt tens10ner ~uch
~0 as an air sprlng m~ntaine ~ known po6ltiv~ engage~ent
betw~en the torque ~lt and each CAp or it~ chuc~.
Each of th~ chuc~ head6 ln sccord~nce with an
~bodiment of th~ lnvention can A~ume ono of a nu~bor of
3tate . In a flrst ~tate, the chuck clamp freely rotate~.
25 It l~ in thiB po~ltion th~t ~he ~huck hqad come~ lnto
contact with ~he tOrque belt for ~arewlng th~ cap~ onto the
container~. In ~hi~ ~tate, the ~w~ clo~e. In a ~econd
~tate, one or more posi~ionerg or ~tops become engagsd a~ a
predetor~ined angular dl~pla~ement o~ ~he rotat~ng chuck.
3~ ~hi~ provldes a known orien~a~ion for the ~aws ~o that the
chuck hea~ i~ in proper orlentation ~th rs~pect to a pu~p
~pout on the cap. TAus, the chuc~ head can be lifted
wlthout the ~aw~ hittlng ~he pu~p spout.
In accordance with tho qtem ~traightenin~ apparatu~ of
35 an embodlment of the inve~tion, ~ 6tem gu~e le~er arm ha~ a
~tem guide at its end. ~he stem guide le~er arm ~ay rotate
the stem gulde i~t~ engage~ent with the top of a pump tube
2 1 62623
- 3 ~
~tem and hol~ the tub~ between th~ ~em ~ulde and a ~t~m
g~ldR piate. T~e ~em quid~ lever ~r~ 13 then lowered to a
lower poe~ti~n along the ~tem tube. The cap ~ay then be
lowered ir.t~ the con~alner and t~e stem lev~r pulled b~k
5 away fro~ the cap.
Th~ torque beit ha~ generaily fewer mo~lng parts thAn
provi~lng each cappinq chuck with it~ own torque li~lted
drive traln. I~ ~or~ua ad~u~t~ent i8 ne~d~d on the c~pplng
machin~, lt i~ ea~ily accomplishod ~y ad~u6~1ng ~he tor~ue
10 b~lt c~utoh. Th~ ~rive for the torque i8 advant~geou~l~
remote ~rom the contalners as they ~re c~pp~d ~hereby
providing a ~or6 ~anlt~ry de~ign especially ~or ~ood
cont~iners. The ~te~ guidQ can ea~lly be replac~ ~y a
guide hAvin~ a d~f~er~nt ~ized gro~ve for rsceivlr~g a
15 dlfferent ~lzed pump ~te~.
Other obj RCt~ ~nd a~vant~g~s of the pres~nt lnvention
will become apparent during ~h~ followlng de~ription o~ the
pre6ently pre~erred e~bodlmQnt of ~he inv~ntlon t3ken ln
conjunction with the drawlngs.
~le~ n~c~1~ti~n ~ ~h~ nrAw~n~
FIG. 1 i~ a ~chematic draw1ng o~ the contalne~ lnt~k~
and di~char~e rel~tlvo to tho pu~p capp~r o~ the presen~
~vention.
~ Ia~ 2 i~ an i~ometrlc ~rawlng of a container ~elng
25 pl~ed ~p by a conta~ner r~cel~ing ~tatlon on th~ pu~p
capper ~f the preSent lnv~ntion.
FI~. ~ is ~n ~cmetric dra~ing in partial cross-eection
of the contalner cl~p ~s~hani~ for operating the clampe of
FI~.l.
FIG. ~ is a plan vieW of a c~p intake portion for use
with the pu~p C~pper o~ the prffs~n~ invention.
FIG. 5 18 a c~o~s-s~ctional ~ron~ ~iew o~ ~ c~ppin~
chuck of the pump capper o~ the prOE~ent inven~ion.
FI~. 6 i~ a side vlew o~ the capping chuck o~ FrG. 5,
~I~, 7 ~ ~ photogr~ph ~ the pump ~app~r o~ the
present invention.
FI~ ~a ~s a cro6~-~ectionaI ~riew of a pu~p tube ~tem
21 62623
guide o~ the pu~p capper of FIG. 7.
FI~;. 8~ i~ a pl~n view of a ~t~ ~Ulde 6egment o~ YIG.
~a .
~ IG . 9 i~ a pl an v1ew of ~h~ to~ q~s belt apparntus and
5 orientation b~lt apparatus of the p~p capper of FI~. 7.
~ I~. lC ~s a cro~ octional vlew o~ a m~gnet~c clutch
~or u~ with the ~or~ue bel t ~ppa~atus of ~G. 9 .
FIG. ll is a compoæi~e cro~s-60ctiona1 front view o~ an
alternate embodlment of a capping Ghuc;~ illustrated with ~aw
O clo~ed on the l~ft and ~A~ open on the right.
F~G. 12 iB a ~i~e V~8W of the hub an~ roller o~ FI~;.
11
pet~ A n~F~cr1pt~on of t)~ ~referr~ ~mh~m~
R~ferr~ng now ~c~ the drawing~ inv~ntion ~hall now
15 be des~ ed in groater detail. contalnerg 12 ar~ typically
transported to tlle pu~p capp~r lO on an i ntake c:on~reyer 14 .
FIG. 1 illuatrate~ a ~tho~l r~r conveying cont~iner~; on~o
:~q. the pump ~apper lO. Cc~ntainers at~e the typical type of
~hreade~ ob~ eCt capped by the pump c~pper lO of ~he
2 0 inven~ ion . The con~alners general ~y have a threaded n~3~k
onto whloh c~p~ wlll be screwed. To prov~d~: the cont.ainer3
12 w~th greate~ ~t~ility, each contiliner ~ay ~e tran~port2d
in a puc~ 16. Adjacent the a~mreyer are ad~ustable guide
rail~ 1~ to rurther tlelp keep t~e container~ 12 in an
25 uprlg~t poe~lon~ Al~ the conta~ner8 12 and pucks 16
approach the pump placer oapper lO, ~h~ are space~ spart
evenly by a rc~tating feed ~crsw ~0. The feed screw ~0 i~ a
helix along~ide o~ which the containere 12 are ~oved ~?y the
conveyer 14. The ~craw thr~ad of the fes~ sc~ew acts to
3 0 reg~larly 6pace the ~ontainero lZ 80 that they can be
properly ~eceived by an intake ~tar wheel 2 ~ . ~he f e~d
screw 2 0 i~; ~oun~ed h~rlzontally ~d~ac~3nt ~lle conveyer 14 .
The in~a3ce st~r wh~el 2 2 i~ a ~oxlzon~ally mounted whc~el .
P~cket~ 24 are cut ~n t.~e circuraference of the whee~ Th~
35 pockets 24 reCeive and advance the Containe~rfi 12. ~he ~;tar
~heel 22 rota~e~ counterclockwi~e. A~ the star w~Leel ~2
rot~e~, it receives ~he evenly spaced conta~ner~ 12 fro~
2 1 62623
-- 5
the conveyer 14. The 6tar wheel ~2 i~i driven ~y ~ gear that
~e~;h~s with the m~n ~ear of ~he pump capp~r turr~t dri.ve~
A di~charge wheel 26 i~ al~o shown for r~moving capped
cont~iner~ ~rom the pump cE~pper 10.
~ererrlng now to FIG. 2, when ~ cont~iner has been
tr~n~rre~ by the lntake ~tar wheel ~2 to th~a pU;Dp capper
10, container alA~p~ 28 on the ~ump cappor 10 gr~b the
contalnar r''or proper o~entation ~n the ~:applng proc:e~.
The claJnp6 28 l~re cl~so~ as the cont~iner crosse~ an
10 imaglnary 1 ine d~r~wn b~ween the c:~nt~r of the intAk~ ~tar
wheel ~haft ~n~ the mld~lle o~ th~ centor column in the pump
capp~r 1~. Upon cro~eing that point, the clA~p~ 2~ ~curel.y
grip the container 12 hold~ny it 1 n proper poaltlon wh~ le
X~plng lt ~rom ~plrlnlng a~ th~ cap 1~ appl ~d . The turrat
15 16 of the pump capper 10 rotata~ in a cloclcw1~e dlrect:lon.
Ithe contalner~ 1~ are held in place by the clAmp~ 2B
~rou~hout t~e p~p c~p placln~ ~nd ecr~wcapping proce~.
ReferrLng now to FIG. 3, tho cont~lner cl~mp6' gripp~ng
a~tion i8 c:ontrolled by roller b~3a~ings attachea to lever~
20 32 supported by cla~p eha~ 34 located below th~ cl~ping
table. The clanp sha~t~ 34 8UppO~ ehe C~.A~lp hub~ to which
the container cla~p~ re mounte:l. The clalPpln~ aat~on
cone6 from cam roll lev~s 32 rtdlng in two h~ ontally
m~unted clamp ~am~ locat6d under the clamplng tabls ae ~hown
25 in ~IG. 3. C)ne of the clamp ca~s ls ~or ~h~ front c~amp and
the other is for th~ back clamp. ~he cnm roll lever~ 32 are
attached to thQ bottom of the sha~s 34 that hold ~he cl~mp
hu~e. ~la~p hubs are supporte to wnich t~e ~onta~ner cla~nps
2 8 are mounted .
simultaneous~y with the transfer of container~ on~o the
pu~p capper apparatu~, the pu~Pp cape are tran~f~rrad ~nto
t~.e pump capper 10 aQ well. The pump cap trancfer tAkes
plac.e at an ~lcvation above th~ tran~fer of thQ con~alner~;.
The heigh~ of ~ cap lntake star wheel 42 with re~pec~ ~o the
3~ containerA i~ ad~usted ~epending upon the slze of the pumps
~eing asse~nb~ ed. R~ferrin~ now to FIG . 4, it ~an l~e ~een
tAat the pump cap~ are receiv~ along a pump cap ch-ute 40.
21 62623
A feed~r pl.-~ces ~ llne o~ pump~ ~nto a cap chute ~0. The
pu~p cap ~~ute provlde6 ~ trac:k in whlch the pu~p capa
slld~. ~rh6 trAc~ la open ~long ite c~nt~ ~n ~-he ~ttom uo
that the ~ou~p t~e stem6 ~an hang down from th~ ~ap3. At
5 the bottol3 of th~ chute 4 o, a ~hute end mechani6n~ hold~ back
the line, yet ~llow3 th~ ~ap int~ke ~tar wt~eel 42 to take
aw~y the pUD~p cap~ one a~ a tim~. The mechani~m ut ~e end
of the chute~ 40 19 de6igned to hold the la~t pump cap in
position u:~il lt i8 placed lnt.o a pocket ~4 of tho pulnp cap
10 lnt~ke Rtar wh~el 4~ The pu~np c~ 1nt~ke ~tar wheel has a
pluralL~y o~ poc3ce~a 44 ~long it~ ~ircumf~2renc:e that re~;el~
the pump c~p~;.
For C~lp5 which do h~ve pus~p f~pout~ and stem~ .,e
orientatlon of the pu~p spout $n l~port~nt ~n ord~r to avoid
15 ~nterferon~ w~t~ the ~rlpping of tho cap by th~ ~hu~k of
the pu~p capper 10. T~13r~fore th~ int~ke ~ar wh~el 42
rotates pa=t 8 ru1~ rai~ ~S. The rub rail 46 protrude~
$~ ben~ath the ~tAr wheel 42 to rub a~ain~t the hub ~ the pump
ste~ a~ the cap~ are moved pi~a~ the rail by t~e int~ke gtar
2~ wheel 42. ~ 5e~i the epo~lt to ~p~n uneil it hi~
- ori~nting pln ~8. ~h~ o~l~nting ptn 48 provided n~x~ to
eac~ of thQ pock~t~ 44 an ~he pump cap 5.ntake ~3tar wh~el 42
stops th~ pump spout ln ~ pr~d~t~rmlnsd known orierstation
~or pickup by the ~hu~ on th~a purp capper 10~ Once pA~t
25 the ru~ rail 46, there i~ o~erçd n~ furth~r ln~errup~ on ~o
t~e rotatlonal positlon o~ the p~p Cap. ThUg the pu~p c~
and ~por~ e~ain Ln prop~r ort e:ntation ~or pl ckup by t:~e
pu~np c~pper 10.
~erring ~ow to FI~i;S. 5, ~ ~nd 7, the pu~p caps are
30 r-~oved rrO~ the 6tar wh~3~1 42 by one of ~hR cap~lng chu~k~
5 0 on ~e pump capp~r ~urr~3t . T~e current e~o~i~ent
provid~s ~ ix chucks 5 0 on the turrot . Nowever, a pump
capper ~.ay be made wi~h a turr~t of any si~e carrying 2Iny
number of chuclcs. The turret ~uppoxt~ a nu~her of shaft6 52,
35 one for eacll ~ppL)~g chuck. ~ach chuck is bolted ~eeurely
to one of t~e fih~f~; S~. The chuck inc:ludes a ro~ating
por~ion and a portion fixed to the ~haft 52. The fixed
2 1 62623
portion includas ar. uppar houRing ~4 and a cen~r~l ~pout
rcgi~trAtlon shaft 56. At the botto~ end of the 3pO~
regi~tratlon sh~t 56 a ~p~ut regls~ra~on hoo~ 58 ~5
a~t~ched. ~he hoo~ 5~ i~ an in~erted chnnnel whlch fit~
5 over a p~p sp~t. Th~ pu~p ~p~ut i~ pre~Jented from
rotating ~y ~he hood 5~ and 1~ th~ held ~n a pred~te~m~ned
ang~e orientAtion.
The rotatlng portlon o~ the chuck 50 include~ a lower
hou~lng 60 h~ing B p~ir of ~w~ 62 exten~ing down th~refrom
10 ~he low~r hou~ing rotate~ a~out bea~lnga 61. The iawa ~2
are ~upported on ~r~ tha~ e~ten~ r~dl~lly outw~rd to ~vo~d
~nterference with tha ~poUt. In the s~bodi~ent of ~IGS. 5
and ~, the jaw~ ~2 are ~upport~d on opposing C-~haped ar~
6~. The C-~hap~d ~ 64 ~r~ pivotally conn~cted to th~
15 lower houslng 60~ ~prin~s 66 attache~ to th~ C-~h~ped ar~e
64 urge ths ar~C in a direction ~hlch pull th~ iaw~ 62 apart
~o release a Cap h~ld therebetween. A pair of plunger6 S&
are m~unted ln ~ chamber wi~hin th~ lower hou~ing 60. ~he
plungers 68 are reciprocally ~ovable up and down within the
20 ch~her. In th~ down p~sltlon, plunger~ 68 pu~h upon the C-
shaped arms 64 to overcom~ the sprinq~ ~6 and forc~ ~he ~aws
62 tog2ther a~aln~t a ~ap. The grlpping power of the ~WB
on the chU~k is ~et ~y the chuck ~ir pr~ure. The ~hu~k
air p~e~sure ahould be ~et hlgh eno~gh so that ths cap
25 cannat 61ip in the ohuck. A~ the sa~e ti~, the chuck
should not be so tlght a~ to ~istort the shapo of the pump
cap. Valving of the chuck air pres~Ur~ control~ a panc~ke
cylinder mounted ln the upper hou~ln~ 54. The
cyllnder i8 connoct~d ~o as to ~U8u a non-rotatlng
30 cylin~ri~l actuator 75 to ri~q and lower. Tho a~tu~tor 75
~i~t~ and depr~6se6 an assa~bly including ~e~ring~ 7~ and
hub 70. ~he plunger~ ~8 are advanta~eou~ly carried on the
hu~ 70. ~hus, t~e chUCk air pre4sure to the pancak~
cyiinder operate~ the lifting ~r lowering o~ the p~ungers 68
35 to open ~r close the jaws 62. In th~ up po~i~ion, plunger~
68 release the C-~haped arms 64 and the ~aw~ 6~ are pull~d
apart ~y the spring~ 66.
2 1 62623
-- 8 --
The ~.u~ ?0 has ~ ~t Gp 72 m~unta~ thereon. Th~ hub ~
ha3 ~ cyllnd~l~al portlon 74 whi~h flts aro~nd ~arlng~ ~fi.
The bearing~ 7 ~ ~eparat~ t~e cy~ind~ l portion ~4 from the
non-rot~ting ~yllndric~l ac~uator 75. T~e oyllndrica~
5 actuator 75 is c~nnected t~ the panca~e cyllnd~r which
cause~ the actuator 75 to rai~e or lower the appaxatus
includir.~ hub 10 and ~earlng~ 76. Wh~n the hu~ 70 ~arrie~
the plung~r~ in t~e down po~tlon, th~ atop 72 f~eely
revolv~s Ln th~ oham~r around the non-rotating cyllndrical
~0 ~ctuator 75~ When the hub 70 1~ ted ln~o the ~-lp position,
the stop 72 wil~ engago ~nQ Or two orisntati.on stop~ 80
axt~ndlng from the upper housing 54 into tha oha~r. rrhe
orientat~n ~top~ ~0 ara loc~ted 1~0~ apart. When the
rotst~ng portion o~ the chu~k 1~ orlented wi~h t~e stop 72
1~ Against one or the orian~tion stops 80, th~ jaw~ 62 ~ill ba
oriented wlth re6pect ~o the cap 6pout oo that the ~huck ~y
be li~ted aw~y from th~ ~on~aln~r without the jaws ~2
hittlng t~e spout.
When the chuck i~ rotated ~ tha~ ~h2 s~op ~2 h~ts
20 againat an orlenta~lon ctop 8~, lt t~ de~ir~le to prevent
~he chuck fro~ bounclng bflak~ T~l~ ~ay be a~co~plis~ed ~y
providing a p~wl 82 ~hat act~ aga~n~t a ru~ber friction diRk
84. Th~ p8wl 82 i~ an ar~ ~onneated to ~ pl~ot atop th~
chUck. The d~k ' 5 att~ched a~ ~n outer ring on top o~ the
25 lower hou~ing ~. Th~ di6t~1 end of the ~rm re~t~ ~pon t~e
f~ction disk 84 at an angle ~uch th~t durin~ ~crewcapping
th~ pawl 8~ glide6 o~er the frlction di6~ 84 without
lnterruption. When ~he ~tops hit, a rebound i~ prevented a8
the pawl Ba ja~ against the fricS~on dl~k 84.
3~ Alterna~ively, r~bound may be p~evented ~y frlctlon ~etween
th~ l~wer houeing and the belt that i~ rotating th~ houslng.
The operation of the pu~p capper 10 can be viQwed
~eglnning with th~ pick up of th- pu~p c~p. Wi~h the
~pindle ~2 rai~ed, the ent~e chuck i~ ln an elevated
35 po~ition. The r~i6ed c~k i~ brou~ht into the vic~ty o~
the starwheel 42. The ~aw~ 62 are ori~nted at a
pre~etermined rota~ion21 angl~ de~ermined by ~he ori ent~tion
- 21 62623
stops 80 And ~r~ in an open po~itlon, Th~ hub 70 i~ in ~he
raised po~ition with lt~ stop 72 agaln~t one o~ ths
or~ent~tlon stop~ ~nd the plun~er~ 6B allowlng th~ ~aws 62
to be pulle~ lnto the open po i~lon by the ~prlngs 66. The
5 pump cap on the ~tar wh~l 4Z has besn p~operly orlen~d
with the ~pout ~g~in~t an orient~tion pin 4~. Wh~n th~
chuc~. 18 dlrcctly over the cap on th~ ~ar wh~el, th~ hu~ 70
i8 lowered by applic~tlon of ch~ck alr px~s~re to the
panca~e cylindQr closlng the ~aw~ ~2 upon the cap. In6tead
10 of alr prs~ure, ~n alternate ambodi~ent c~ have the hub
controll~d by a me~nical cam arr~qement. Me~nwhile,
ben~ath the cap starwh~el 42, the container st~r wh2~1 22
ha~ bro~h~ A container in~o eng~ nt with a container
cla~p 2 a . The pump capper turr~t mov~s the capplng chuck
15 wlth the container d~r~ctly ben~ath i~.
ThQ next ~ctlon to t~ke place on th~ pu~p capper ~
~te~ straightenin~ oo that the capp1ng c~uc~ can lower the
cap onto ths ~-ontalner with ~he aseuranc~ that the pu~p ~tem
has ~een ~neerted lnto the cont~iner. Referr~ng now to ~I~S
20 ~a and 8b, eac~ o~ck has a pump ste~ guld~ 90 a~ociated
therewith along ~he turre~. The pump stem gui~e 90 includ~
~ ~tem lever g2 and a ~t~ guid~ ~gm~nt g~.
Advantageously, the 3t~ g~ide ~egment ~naps int~ the end of
the stem l~ver so th~t a ~te~ guide Begmen~ having an
~5 appropria~ely eized ~uide channel w~ich flt~ the pump tube
3te~ o f the cap b~ing procec~ed ~ay be ~n~pp~d thereon. A
~al l detent 95 may b~ uced ~ hold the ~t~m gui~e 6egment 94
ln place on the ste~ levsr 92. The s~em ~uide ~gmen~ ha~ A
V channel 93 which catche~ ~he ~te~ ~hereln. Normally th~
30 ~tem gui~e ~eg~ent 94 is swung by the ~tem lever gz out of
the way of th~ cappLng chu~k.
After the c~p ha~ been secured w~thln ths ~aws 62, the
ste~ le~er ~2 ~win~s the ~tew gul~e ~gment 94 lnto p~ltion
~o catch the t~p por~on of the pump s~e~ ~ithin it~ channel
93~ At this looatl~n along the turre~, a ~tem stralghteninq
plate 96 is encountered. The plat~ g6 provides a ~moot~
~rf~ce in a ci~ular arc tha~ matc~e~ the circular ~ovement
-- 21 62623
- lo -
of the turr~t. ~he piate i~ iocated ~o that the p~mp ~tem
iL caugh~ in the guide channel 93 between the ~tem guide
~egment ~4 and ~h~ plate 96. A5 the chuc3c 1~ moved by the
tunnel along the plate, t:he ~tem quide l~ver 92 ~ lowered
5 ~y ~ean6 o~ an alr cylinder ~. Th~ stem guide ~e~Qnt 94
~ovee~ down the pw~p sta~ whlle continuous~y holding it
between the s~em ~uide ~eg~ent g4 an~ the pla'ce ~6. As the
stem ~ide ~R5~ent g~ ie ~lid down along the pl~te, the pump
Btem i~ stra~g~tened. As the ;te~ guide ~g~en~ g4 r~ache~
10 the botto~ portis~n or tt~e pump 8tR~a, the ~pindle 52 ~nd the
~ntlre c:huck ls lowered ~o ~8 to ~rop the cap into the
c~ntainer whlch iB ~ocated dlrectly belo~r the cap on the
pu~np capper turret. Th~ po~ltion of the bo~tom o~ t~e pum-?
t~be stem hAs bRnn reliably po~itioned ~y ~he ~tem
lS 6traigh~ner 80 as to drop through tl~e openlng in the
container. At a~out ~hi8 position ~d~acent the turret, the
st~ traight~ing plA~e g6 end~ ~s jt i~ no lon~er need~d.
The tep Or each stem gulde so ha~i a ~sh~rt 97 ~ttached to a
plate ca~. The sha~t g7 rides ~410ng th~ plate cam. At ~he
~o correct point in the cycle, the c~ pu~hes the cam roll
outward. T~is pro~ides t~e ~winglng ~otlon whlch ~ove~ ~hQ
st~ guide lev~r 92 away rrom under the chuck once ~he stem
guid~ 90 pOfiitiOn5 th~ pump stc~ over the con~alner.
~he ~pindle s2 o~ t~e chuck ~s connecte~ to a roller
25 bearing which ride3 on a ~arrel ~a~. The barrel ca~ is
located near the center o~ ~h~ pump capper. ~hi~
eonvent~nal ~8c~ani~ provla~s the ~ertic21 motion o~ ~he
chuck. W~th ~he CAp on the container, the cap i8 now ~ea~y
to be ~crewed tigh~ly th~reon.
The chuck ia brought in contact with a tor~ue ~eit.
Th~ t~rque belt ic ~ timing belt rotated b~ an slectric
~otor ~hrough a torque clut~h. T~e ~tch i~ dosigned to
~lip at a predeternined applica~ion torque. ~he b~
designe~ ~or ~klng po~itive enga~ement with a ~applng chuck
3~ o~ a pump ~apper. Alterna~ively, the ~orque b~lt may be
use~ adjacent a transporter or ~onveyor c~rrying containers
w~th ~aps pvised on top ~or ~cr~wing~ In ~his alterna~e
-- 2 1 6262~ -
embodi~ent thQ ~a~G may eng~ge ~ tor~ h~lt direc~ly
En~aging caps ~llrectly is expect~ to work be~t with larqe
cap~. ~he c~p~ ~houl,l ~e on ~p of their r~pac~iYe
e~ntainer~ ~ t~ey are pa~ed slong ~he torque belt. The
5 ~ontalne~ nre held so a~ ~u pr~v~nt them from rotating.
~he C~pB ~houl~ en~age t~e tor~u8 belt ene at a ti~e with
the c~p/~ re~p~ctlve c~ntalner ~orce~ ~a~n~t the belt t~
maintain a ~o~itive engagemen~ between the cap dnd the balt
t~roughout ~e screwing step. The oap~ are rel~tively easy
~0 to turn at fir~t. When ~ c~p i6 ~mpletely turnçd o~to the
threadc of lts con~alnar, the resi~t~nce lncre~se~ guiekly.
At th~ point where the cnp reGl6t~nae ~x~eed~ the ~sxim~m
~arque pr~ ed by the clut~h, the ~lutch ~eglns to elip.
In the o~bb~lment of FIG. 9, t~ torGue b~lt ~.00
15 contact~ t~ outer 6urf~e of the lower housing 6Q af~er the
cap h~s b~en ln~ert~d into itB cont~ln~. The torque belt
100 i~ looped tightly aroun~ thrse whee 1 ~ The torque be~t
O 16 pr~f~r~ly a tlming l:f~lt s~rith rldge~ ~nd groo~re~
whlch mate with ~idge~ and grooves around ~ach of the thre
20 whQels. The ~;huck contact~ ~e bel~ be~ n two of the
wheel~. The ~orqu~ ~e~t 15 held tightly aga~nst the chuck
to ebtain ~ ~081tive engagement. Th~ outor ~;urface of the
chuck ' 8 lower housing ~0 i~ rQ~Aqh~ r~ to sub~tantiall~ ~void
~lippa~e. The torqu~ ~elt loo o~ ~Q pr~sently pref~rred
~5 e~bodiment i~ mad~ o~ n~-oprene. 5uoh ~elts a~e commenly
~vd~ fro~n, for exar~ple, Vo~ sQltlng and Speclalty Co.
rrO~ whom the 360X~. 7S 18 pre~ently preferred. Slippin~
~etween the torque bQlt and the chuc)c ~E~ unde~ redt
pArtlculsrly wh'le l*.e cep i~ be~ng ~orqu~d. The po~lt~ve
3~ eng~gement c~n be Dlalntalned }~y mai~.tainlng t~e ten~ion l~n
the torque be~c 100. I~ 1s done ~n the e~bodi~ent shown
by an alr epriny cylinder 102 ac~ing a~linst on~ o~ the
wheels. A~ ~hown, one o~ the whee~ attac:hed to a lever
104 wh.ich i~ atta~hed ln turn t~ thR ai.r 3pring 1~2. The
35 a~r spring lo~ is maint~ed at a de~;ired pre~ure so as to
hol~ the bel~ to t~e de~ired tensiun a~ the chucX come~; in
c~ontact ~ritn tll~ belt. T~le entlre rotat i ~n of the c~p to
21 62623
tight~n it on~o the cont~lner i~ pero~ed a~ the chuck iB
moved by the pu~ap cspp~r t~rret ad~ent the torque bq~lt
~ 00 ~ A pre~ently pr~ferred a~r ~pr~ng i~ t~e Bi~ba 04-1.5
DXP ~D-584~6-A-1. 5) .
The dri~ ~or tbe torque ~elt 1~ ~ torque clutch. Tho
torqu~ clutc~ 1~6 i3 attached fo~ drivlng on~ of t~e wh~el~
withln the torque bolt. In the pre~ntly preferr~d
~mbodlment~ tho torque olut~h 106 13 a magn~tic clutch. The
clutch will ~lip ~t a pr~determined appl~cation torque.
lo Thu~ once the ~ap ha~ ~een tightly ~cY_u~'. onto the
cont~iner, the torqus bQlt will not apply ~ore th~n the
predeter~Lned ~axi3u~ application torqu~. Th~ maximu~
~orqu~ of ~he ~agnetic clutch can be e~ly ad~u~ted by
~ttlng t~o voltage to the magnet$c clutch, The clutch ~06
5 15 driven ~y an al~c~ric motor 1~8.
ThQ ~rewing operatl~n c~n bQ ~cceler~ed by
controlling th~ drive to apply a hlgher torqu~ at the
beginnin~ of t~e ~arewing operatlon and rod~cing to the
application torque before the screw ~ap 1B co~pl~t~ly
20 ti~htened. Th~, ths ti~e it takes to ~cmpletely scr~w the
cap onto the ccntainer c~ ~e re~uced and ~till provide ~
maximum applic~tion torque when the cap ha6 been co~pl~tely
tiyhtened. Moreover~ t~ hi~her initial torque may be
use~ul in overco~lng resi~tance to s~rewing . In particular J
25 when the cap thr~ad~ and the cont~ lnex throad~ are made of
~he ga~e e~otb materi~l a large a~unt of ~ur~ace friction
may n.oed to bR overcome ~uring 6c:~ewcapping.
By provi~ing a ~axlmu~ appllcatlon torque, ths
apparatus avold~ unneces~dr~ly stre~sln~ t~e cap and
30 po~sibly br~aking it ~r the cont~iner. By using the torque
~elt ~o tlghten the ~ap~ for e~ch of the chu~k~
po~lble to have a ~ingl~ torque li~iting ~ev~ ~8 on the
machine that handl~ torquing all of the cap~ the
applicatlon of torque need~ to b~ adju~ted be~ause a
3s dlfferent cap and container ls ~eing handled ~y the ma~in
the adjustment i~ ~a~e e~ier by ha~ing only the &inyle
tor~ue ~elt.
21 62623
~ typical magnetlc torque clut~h is ~hown in FI~. 10.
A presently preferred ~agne~c torque ~lutch 1~ the Model C-
35 made and ~old by Pla~d Industrle~, Inc. o~ Lake Pl~c~d,
~e~- York. An inp~t housing 110 is rotat~d by a bel~
5 connected to the electrlc ~otor 1~8. ~e output shaft 112
i~ coupled to t~e output hou6ing 110 by magnetlc flux. An
elect~o~gn~t~c coil 114 in thu outer hous~ng pro~ldes the
magne~c r~ux. Magnetlc part~cle~ 1~6 fll~ a g~p between
the output ~a~t ~n~ t~e hou~ing. By setting the voltage on
10 the elec~romagnet 11~, th~ degrse of c~upling between the
input and output of the clutch is deter~ln~d thereby
determlning the m~ximum appllcatlo~ torque throuqh th~
clu~ch. ThU~, in ~cordance with the ln~ntion, it is a
~i~ple ~att~r to ~ake an ad~uet~nt to th~ appllcation
15 torgue. MorQover, one torque belt ~ts the predeter~in~d
application torque for a plurallty of ~apping h~ad~.
When a ca~ has been torqued to the ~ull applioatlon
r~ue, the pump ~pping proces6 15 complete. Th6 chuck A~ r
pr~ssure 1~ controlled to lif~ the hub 70, thereby opening
2G the jaw6 ~2 and rel~a3ing the oapped container.
Now, the chuck if reoriented ~or 6a~ely lif~ng the
~aw6 wlthout hitting the pump ~pou~ and for proper
orientatlon to pick up the next cap. For this p~rpo~e, an
orient~tion belt 120 ic provld~d a~tQr th~ torque belt.
25 ~etween the torque bel~ and the orlentation belt 120, the
hub 70 is lifted fxom it~ l~west posltlon to lte rai~ed
po~tion ~ub~ect to ~he orientation ~top- 80. The
or~entat~on ~elt 120 rotates the chuc~ untll th~ stop 72
hit6 a~ orientation stop 80. At thi~ pbint, ~he pawl ~2
30 pre~ents the chuck rrom rebcunding o~f thc s~op. The
orientation belt 12a thus returnc th~ chua~ to lts pr~per
posltion for safely li~tlng pa~t the spout and for picklng
up a next pu~p cap at thQ pump cap inlet 6tar whe~l 42. A
~eries of ~ensors may ~e provided along the ~achine to maXe
35 ~u~e that the chuck ~s in the correct orientaticn ~efore it
rea~he~ the pu~p inlet ~tar wheel. If it i6 not in the
correct orientation, t~e machine will ~hut down. ~nstead of
2 1 62623
havin~ the orientation bel~ 12~ dr~ve the chuck and having
the pawl brake the chuck upon hltting the st~p, ~h~
orientation ~elt c~n be pla~e~ around ~ fr~ction cl~tch.
The orlentation bolt itself cau~es tha chuc~ to rot~te ~ it
i~ tran~ported Py th~ turret. The chuck rotnte~ untll the
~top 7Z hitQ nn orient~tlon stop ~0. The belt itaelf can be
uqed to prevent the chuc~ fro~ re~ounding o~f the stop. The
frict~on clu~oh ~lip5 when the atop8 ~ntact. Another
alterna~$VQ ~8 to per~orm thQ orienting oporation with the
10 torquQ ~elt 100 it~elf. Thla may ~low down the overall
operation and wo~l~ thus be mo6t a~op~iate for thoso
8y~t~m8 which hsv~ le~s s~ringent throughput r~qu~rement~.
An a~tern~tlve ~rrAnqement ~or reori~nt1ng the chuck
~hall be describ~d with r~pect to the alt~rn~e e~bodiment
illu~tratod in ~IG. ll. The left hal~ of FIG. 11 ~how~ the
~aw~ in th~ clo3ed pogi~ion whlle the ~ght ha~ of th~
figu~e ~how~ the ~aw8 in th~ op~n p~ltion. wlth the non-
rotating cyllndrica~ actuator 75 in th~ down positlon, the
~aws 64 and the hub 7~ ~ay freely rotate. When the hub 70
20 i5 retracted ~nto tho up po~ition, two hardene~ rollers 130
(only on~ ~hown) spaoed 180 apart contaot the top sur~ace
of the hub '8 cylindric~l portion 7~ . E~ch rc~ ar ~ 30 1~ a
roller whlcll 1~ mountQd for rot~lt~on ~bout an axle 132. The
axle 132 extends in a r~d~al dlrection. The top 6urîAc~ of
25 the hub 70 ha~ two v-groovos 1~4 180C apart for capt~r~ng
the roller6 130. FIG. 12 provlde~ A sid~ view of a roller
in a v-groove 134. For thi~ em2:~od1ment, the orientatlon
belt 120 nQ~d not be driven. R~h~r the orlentation belt
12~ m~y be norDI~lly ~ixed ln po~ition by a man~lally
30 ad~ust~ble friction c:~utch. I~iti~lly, the belt 120 ca~laes
the low~r housln~ 60 to rotate a~ the turret mov~B the chuck
dr~gging th~ lower housing along the be~t. As th~ lower
houslng rotate~, the rollers 130 roll over the upper ~urface
of the hub 70. Wh~n the rollers 130 encounter the v-groo~es
3~ 134, the hub 70 ret~act~ up further ~topplng the rotation of
the hub 70 and the lower housing 60. The non-rotating lower
housing exerts enough fric~ional force on the orientation
- 2~ 62623
- 15 -
be~t 120 to cause lt~ clutc~ to 61~p. The orient~tion belt
120 i~ thus reoriqnted preventing ~xces~lve wear in any
glven spot. Wlth the roll~r~ 130 in the v-grooves 134, the
~aw~ 64 ~re properly oriontod for lift~ng o~ the chuck
5 without h~tting the pump ~pout.
once t~e chuck i~ prop~rly orien~ed, tho capped
contalner c~n ~e re~oved from the pump capper. T~e capping
chuck i~ ted up ~ove the contalner to t~e helght needed
~or plc~lng of~ the n~xt cap. A conventional cam ~eahAnl~m
10 lifta th~ spin~le o~ the ahuck ~t th~ appropr~ate ti~o. The
clamps 28 release the con~a~ne~r ~ few degree~ ahead of an
ima~ln~ry l~n~ drawn between t~e ~lddlc o~ the center column
and the c~nt~r o~ the ~iP~~rge ~tar wheel 26. A cont~iner
1Q re~ove~ ~rom the C1H~P ~8 to the d~scharge star wheel 26.
15 Llk~ the lnt~ke stAr wheel, the, di~charge star whe~l rotate~
countercloc~w~e. The container~ are carried ~etwe~n the
di~ch~rge ~tar wheel and the center g~ldec aaro~ the
transfer plate~ and onto the di6charg~ convoy~r, ~he
di~char~e conv~ye~ carrles the containers aw~y from the
20 capping area.
Of aour~e, it 6hould b~ understoo~ that vaxlous ahange~
~nd modl~ica~on~ to th~ pre~erred e~bodimsnt desoribed
above wlll b~ apparen~ to thos~ ~kille~ in the art. For
exampl~, thQ magnotic Clutch &an be replaced by an electr~c
25 clutch, a friction torque clutch, a 6ervo~0tor or any other
mechAniem that provide~ a predetermlned ~axlmum torque.
Moreover, ~he torque belt of the present lnventi~n ~ay be
used, without ch~cks, to dir~ctly apply torqUe to a cap.
contain~rs wlth cape poised r~r ~cr~wc~pplng ~ay be
30 tran~ported ~long the torque belt by a ~urret, a convey~r
belt or any other ~uitable mo~e~en~ ~ean~. Guide ~ails,
belts cr other m~chanis~s x~y ~e used to m~lntain po~ltlve
engagemen~ be~ween the cap~ and the torque ~elt during
~crewing, These and other ~hanges can be ~a~e witho~t
35 departing fr~ the ~pirit And 6cope o~ the ~nvention ~nd
without dimini~hing it~ attendant ~dvantage6. It i~
therefore intended that such change~ and modificat~ons he
21 62623
cover~d by ~he ~ollowing claims.
