Patent GB-594322-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to bottle-capping apparatus
IPC: B67B3/02
Filed: 1945-03-21
Abstract: 594,322. Bottle-capping machines. EVERSHED, R. A., and EVERSHED & CO. (BOW), Ltd., J. March 21, 1945, No. 7188. [Classes 125 (ii) and 125 (iii)] Capping material in strip form comprises a series of discs for caps partially detached by cuts in the strip but held in situ by undetached portions between the cuts the strip being provided with feed holes in the waste material spaced at distances corresponding to the spacing of the caps. As shown in Fig. 7 it may comprise a strip of aluminium or other soft metal, paper or compound material provided with series of arcuate cuts 70 separated by uncut material 71 and defining the edges of the caps, and having holes 72 for engagement by the plunger of the feeding device. A suitable capping machine comprises a vertically movable capping head, a strip-holding bracket below this and also vertically movable, a device for feeding capping material strip between the head and the bracket, centring means for the bottle and means for moving the capping head downwardly, first to grip the strip outside the cuts and then jointly with the bracket to apply a cap from the capping material to the bottle and detach it from the remainder of the strip by tearing it between the cuts. The mountings of the strip-holding bracket 15, Fig. 1 and capping head 16 are splined on a vertical column 14 which is adjustably mounted in the block 12 secured to the, bench 11. The sleeve 21 carrying the bracket 15 is urged upwardly by a spring 23, and the capping head 16 is drawn upwards by a tension spring. A cam-lever 17 is pivoted on a block at the head of the column 14, and when operated, forces the capping head 16 downwardly to contact the strip material on the bracket 15, and depress the latter also. A stop on the column 14, adjustable by a lever 116 to increase the clearance between the capping head and the strip holding bracket for inserting a fresh supply of strip, limits the upward movement of these parts. The capping head 16 is a hollow bellshaped member, having a cylindrical recess underneath, in which is located a rubber capping ring as described in Specification 508,108: The strip holding bracket has an aperture corresponding to the recess in the capping member, and two horns 36, 37 for locating the top of the bottle. A strip-feeding member 93, having a spring-loaded plunger for engaging holes punched in the capping material, slides on a rod 92 below the bracket 15. It is urged towards the right by a spring 99 and carries a stud which is engaged by the forked end of the lever 19. When under this action of the lever 17 the bracket 15 is depressed, the end of a bar 98 attached thereto contacts a cam portion 97 on the lever 19 and forces the latter to the left, the spring-loaded plunger sliding over the strip which is now clamped between the bracket and the capping head. On release of the lever 17 the plunger enters a hole in the strip, and feeds the latter forward until the lever 19 is arrested by the stop 110. A pivoted member 62 normally rests on the length of strip fed from the coil 60, but on release of the lever 17, a member 105 is contracted by a member 104 fixed to the column 14, and raises the member 62 to free the loop. Locating means for the bottom of the bottle comprise rails 38, 39, Fig. 3, fixed to the bench 11, and arms 40, 41 pivoted at 48, 47 and connected by a spring 50. Cut-away cam faces on the column 14 cause the arms 40, 41 to recede or approach as the column is raised or lowered. A pivoted stop 42 is provided for supporting the column when in the raised position. According to the Provisional Specification, the operating lever may be connected to the capping head by a link, and the feeding device comprises a lever carrying a knuckle-jointed finger which engages holes in the strip on the outgoing side, the feeding movement of the lever taking place under the action of a weight.