Abstract:
A clamping assembly for clamping various change parts from a filler device. The clamping assembly includes a first member and a second member. The second member is pivotably connected to the first member. The second member includes a threadform positioned at the far end thereof. The adjustment member is capable of traversing along the threadform, to, in turn, clamp multiple change parts of a filler device together. Advantageously, the device permits rotation of the adjustment member, and, in turn, clamping of change parts, without the use of tools.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates in general to filler devices, and, in particular to a clamping assembly for use in association with filler devices, to, for example, facilitate the attachment and detachment of various change parts of filler devices (i.e., filler device components). It will be understood that a filler device may include components which perform a variety of processes, including, but not limited to rinsing, filling, capping, sealing and sorting of any one or more of caps, flexible containers and/or rigid containers. Such devices are commonly used in the food and beverage industry.  
         [0003]     2. Background Art  
         [0004]     Filler devices have been in use for many years. Such filler devices include multiple components which are configured to retain and direct the containers to be filled. Among other components, such components include rotary container grasping components and linear container guiding components coupled to other components of the filler device. Generally, it is desirable to couple such filler components in a manner such that they can be decoupled, removed and reinstalled with minimal effort.  
         [0005]     For example, in certain instances, components are removed from the filler device for cleaning. Such cleaning has gained importance with the increasingly stringent controls relative to cleanliness and relative to the filling for an extended shelf life, especially with low acid fluids. Moreover, in certain circumstances, the same filler device can be used in association with containers of varying sizes. In either situation quick removal and replacement with minimal effort becomes important and desirable.  
         [0006]     Certain fasteners have been developed to facilitate the quick removal and replacement of various filler components. Certain of such fasteners or coupling assemblies require the manufacture of multiple custom components which are quite costly to design and manufacture. Other fasteners require the use of several different special tools to couple and decouple the components. Still other designs, while actuatable by the hand of a user without special tools, generally do not have adequate positive engagement of components of a sufficient strength of retention. As such, even when fully assembled, the coupled components can move relative to each other. Lastly, certain fasteners comprise multiple components which must be removed. With such fasteners, the various components are often small and are easily dropped or lost within the filler device.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to prelude a coupling assembly which can be articulated without any one of conventional and/or special tools.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly which is easily positionable in each of an engaged position and a disengaged position.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly which can be manufactured in a relatively cost effective manner.  
         [0010]     It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly which remains integral and which does not require the removal and disconnection of multiple components thereof.  
         [0011]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     A clamping assembly for clamping a first component of a filler device to a second component of a filler device comprising a first member and a second member. The first member includes a slot positioned thereon and a channel intersecting therewith, the first member attached to the first component of the filler device. The second member includes a pivot member and an adjustment member. The pivot member includes a body with a first end and a second end. An outward protrusion is positioned proximate the first end of the body, the protrusion is positionable within the slot of the first member, such that the first end of the body is capable of traversing along the channel of the first member. A threadform is positioned proximate the second end thereof. The adjustment member includes a body and a manipulating member. The body includes a threadform positioned thereon which is capable of mating engagement with the threadform of the pivot member. The manipulating member facilitates manipulation of the adjustment member by a hand of a user.  
         [0013]     In a preferred embodiment, the channel is substantially perpendicular to the slot. In another preferred embodiment, the outward protrusion extends on opposing sides of the pivot member, at the first end thereof. In one such embodiment, the channel is configured so as to permit rotation of the pivot member through an angular displacement of less than 90°, wherein the outward protrusion forms the axis of rotation.  
         [0014]     In another preferred embodiment, the first member includes an attachment assembly comprising a plurality of openings; and a plurality of fasteners capable of extending through the openings and into the second component.  
         [0015]     In a preferred embodiment, the second member further includes means for precluding detachment of the pivot member relative to the adjustment member. In one such embodiment, the precluding means further comprises a stop positioned proximate the second end of the pivot member, to in turn, limit the outward rotation of the adjustment member beyond a predetermined point.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  of the drawings is a perspective view of the clamping assembly of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  of the drawings is perspective view of the clamping assembly showing the first and second members in a separated configuration;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  of the drawings is a top plan view of the clamping assembly showing the first and second members in a separated configuration;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  of the drawings is a perspective view of the clamping assembly in operation thereof; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  of the drawings is a schematic cross-sectional view of the clamping assembly of the present invention, showing, in particular, the second member.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0023]     It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.  
         [0024]     Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1  clamping assembly is referred to generally at  10 . As is shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 , the clamping assembly is configured for attachment of removable and replaceable component  100  to a filler device component, such as component  110 . The clamping assembly is particularly well suited for the attachment of container guiding or directing assemblies (both rotary and linear) to other filler subassemblies. Such components are generally removed and replaced for both cleaning and to allow for the retention and transfer of differently sized containers to increase the versatility of the filling equipment. Indeed, while reference is made to filler devices, it will be understood that regardless of any ordinary meaning, with respect to the present disclosure, filler device shall include components which perform a variety of processes, including, but not limited to rinsing, filling, capping, sealing and sorting of any one or more of caps, flexible containers and/or rigid containers.  
         [0025]     In greater detail, clamping assembly  10  includes first member  12 , second member  14  and engagement member  16  ( FIG. 4 ). First member  12  is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  as comprising body  20 , slot  21 , channel  22  and attachment assembly  24 . Body  20  includes top wall  60 , bottom wall  62 , and intervening side walls  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  ( FIG. 2 ). Slot  21  is positioned within opposing wall  70  of body  20  and extends at least partially across the length thereof. Channel  22  is positioned within body  20  such that it extends generally perpendicular to the slot, and through at least top wall  60 , and preferably bottom wall  62 . The attachment assembly is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as comprising openings  26  and fasteners (not shown). Openings  26  extend through body  20 . The fasteners extend through the openings  26  of body  20 , and ultimately into component  110 . Preferably, first member  12  comprises a plastic material, such an ABS plastic, or other material. In certain embodiments, the first component may be integral with the component  110 .  
         [0026]     Second member  14  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as comprising pivot member  30  and adjustment member  32 . Pivot member  30  includes body  34  having first end  36  and second end  38 . First end  36  includes outward protrusion  40  extending at an angle oblique to body  34  of pivot member  30 . In the embodiment shown, outward protrusion  40  extends in opposing directions, in a generally perpendicular orientation. The outward protrusion is configured so as to be received within slot  21  of body  20  of the first member.  
         [0027]     Second end  38  of pivot member  30  includes a plurality of threads  33  positioned thereon. The particular configuration of the threads (i.e., fine/coarse, etc.), can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. The threads extend a certain distance from second end  38  toward first end  36 . In the embodiment shown, the threads extend only partially between the first and second ends.  
         [0028]     Adjustment member  32  is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  as comprising body  50  and manipulating member  54 . Manipulating member  54  is coupled to body  50 . Body  50  includes a cavity having plurality of threads, extending therealong and an engagement surface  59  ( FIG. 3 ). The threads of body  50  are configured to interface with the threads positioned on second end  38 . The manipulating member  54  comprises a handle having a plurally of grasping regions  57 . The grasping regions provide a moment arm to facilitate the rotation of the adjustment member relative to the pivot member (by the hands of a user), to in turn, clamp a component therebetween. Thus, it is preferable that no tools are required to tighten and loosen the various adjustment members, yet the adjustment members can be tightened such that the various components are properly retained.  
         [0029]     In certain embodiments, the second member includes means for precluding detachment of the pivot member relative to the adjustment member. In one embodiment, the precluding means may comprise a variation in the threadform of the second end of pivot member, to, in turn, preclude the detachment of adjustment member  32 . In another embodiment, a physical stop, such as stop  67  shown in  FIG. 5 , may be employed on the pivot member which limits the outward rotation of the adjustment member, and, in turn, a disconnection of same from the pivot member.  
         [0030]     The engagement member  16  is shown in  FIG. 4  as comprising plate member  70  having slot  72 . The plate member  70  includes an upper surface  74  and a lower surface  76 . The engagement member is attached to component  100 . As will be explained, the engagement member  70  is mounted such that the pivot member can be positioned into slot  72  thereof and such that engagement surface  59  ( FIG. 3 ) of the adjustment member can interface with upper surface  74  of plate member  70 . The plate member may comprise a metal or alloy thereof, or a polymer material. In certain embodiments, the engagement member may be an integrated component of component  100 .  
         [0031]     In operation, the outward protrusion  40  of the second member is positioned into slot  21  of the first member such that it may be pivotable therein. Channel  22  is positioned such that pivot member  30  is permitted to pass from one end of the channel to the other end of the channel through pivoted movement thereof. Next, the first member of clamping assembly  10  is positioned and attached to component  110 . Finally, removable component  100  is positioned in the proper orientation for attachment. Preferably, the outward protrusion comprises the axis of rotation of pivot member  30  and, the pivot member can pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In a disengaged position, the outward protrusion  40  remains within slot  21  yet the pivot member is positioned away from slot  72  of engagement member on component  100  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0032]     In an engaged position, the pivot member is pivoted about the outward protrusion within slot  21  such that the pivot member is positioned into the slot  72  on engagement member  16 , to overlie a portion of component  100 . At such time, the manipulating member of the adjustment member can be rotated to advance the adjustment member along threads  42  of pivot member  30 . The further rotation places engagement surface  59  into abutment with upper surface  74  of plate member  70 , to in turn, clamp component  100  there between. Thus, the component  100  is clamped to component  110  and releaseably retained.  
         [0033]     To disengage the components, the pivot member is returned to the disengaged configuration. In particular, the adjustment member is loosened disengaging engagement surface  59  from upper surface  74 . Once loosened sufficiently, the pivot member is pivoted relative to the first member, about the axis of outward protrusion  40 . Through such pivoting, the pivot member is removed from slot  72  on engagement member  16  associated with component  110 . The configuration of channel  22  facilitates movement of the pivot member through a predetermined angular distance. For example, the channel  22  may be configured to permit a rotation of the pivot member a distance sufficient to remove the pivot member from the proximity of component  110 , but substantially no further (i.e., to minimize the necessary amount of movement of the pivot member). In one embodiment, the channel is configured so as to permit pivoting of the pivot member through an angular distance less than 90°. Of course, other angular displacements are likewise contemplated. Once in the disengaged configuration, the component  100  can be removed.  
         [0034]     The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.