Patent GB-1111233-A (GB)
Title: Container sealing machine
IPC: B65B7/28
Filed: 1965-09-13
Abstract: 1,111,233. Applying closures. ANCHOR HOCKING GLASS CORPORATION. 13 Sept., 1965 [11 Feb., 1965], No. 38931/65. Heading B8T. Filled containers 3 are carried by a conveyer 2 through a vertically adjustable steam chamber 9 in which the lower end of a cap feed shoot 5 is located such that a container withdraws a cap from the shoot, an applicator 7 levels the cap on the container neck and a sealing unit 8 screws the cap home. The steam chamber has steam inlets 10, Fig. 5, not shown, and supports the applicator, sealing unit and endless side belts 4, Fig. 15, not shown, which engage the container sides during their travel through the chamber. The chamber assembly is supported by a column 11, Fig. 3, not shown, and is vertically adjustable by rotating a crank 25 which has a screw 22 to which a bracket 21, secured to the chamber, is threaded. The frame of the conveyer 2 is also adjustably mounted on the column 11 and additionally has end posts 14. The side belts 4 are carried on rollers 17, 18, and their inner runs are engaged by transversely adjustable bars 19, 20, Fig. 15, not shown, their belt engaging sides being channeled to receive belt engaging rollers 67 supported in plates 68. Transverse adjustment of the bars and also of the rollers 17, which are carried by brackets attached to the bars, is provided by transverse screws 50, Fig. 6, not shown, with oppositely threaded portions 57, 58 engaging nuts 59 secured to the bars, rotated by control knobs 51. Cover sections 70, 71 secured to the outer sides of the bars co-operate with the lower edges of the steam chamber. The shoot is supplied with caps from a hopper and may comprise a housing 90, 91 and 96, Fig. 9, not shown, with adjustable side guides 92 and an adjustable top member 95. The caps pass between perforated hollow rails 99, 100 supplied with steam whereby the caps are heated to soften their gaskets. The caps are held at the bottom of the shoot by detents at the end of a pair of adjustably spaced end rails. The applicator consists of plates 108, 109, Fig. 11, not shown, resiliently mounted on a frame 110. A friction drag 112<SP>1</SP> gives each cap a twist to disengage the container threads. The plate 108 is urged downwardly by a spring 115 and has a magnet 112 for holding caps thereagainst, and is guided by vertical posts 113, 114. The plate 109 is also urged downwardly by springs and guided by vertical posts, and lightly twists the caps on to the threads, and includes for this purpose a non-friction surface 116 and a drag 117. An additional drag member 123<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 5, retains the caps in position until they reach the sealing unit. The latter comprises a drag shoe 130, Fig. 16, not shown, which bears on the cap and screws it down, and an endless belt 30 forced by a shoe 133 into engagement with the cap and driven at a speed greater than that of the container, and assists in the screwing up action. A hinged member 136 carries the shoes and enables them to rock about a longitudinal axis. An electric motor 31 drives the conveyer 2 via a chain and sprockets, and the side belts 4 are driven from the conveyer shaft 27 via gear couplings 29, 36 and 37, Fig. 2, not shown, which drive a transverse shaft 38 geared to the shafts of the side belt pulleys 17. The sealing belt 30 is driven via a coupling from the shaft 38. In a modification a separate drive motor is mounted on the steam chamber to drive the belts 4 and 30. In a further modification a drive motor 170, Fig. 20, not shown, is mounted on the steam chamber to drive the belts 4 and 30 and also the conveyer 2, and includes a gear system to permit hieght adjustments of the chamber relative to the conveyer. The shaft of the belt 30 is driven from the motor via a chain 173 and sprockets, and a drive from this shaft is taken to the conveyer shaft 27 via chains 181, 182 and intermeshed pinions in a guide arm 187 pivoted at 190 and connected to an arm 188 pivoted to the conveyer shaft 27.