Patent GB-284522-A (GB)
Title: A machine for applying closures to bottles and other containers
IPC: B67B5/06
Filed: 1927-05-30
Abstract: 284,522. Tevander, O. N. May 30, 1927. Capsules, applying; sealing-wax and the like, applying. - A machine for applying closures to bottles and other containers comprises means for winding a strand about the closure, and mechanism for applying cement to the ends of the strand and to the closure to secure the strand. The machine carries out the method described in Specification 267,838 and is adapted to draw a length of string from a reel, wind it about the skirt of the cap, and secure the overlapping ends to each other and to the skirt by a portion of cement, the string being finally severed to permit removal of the bottle. A base 4, Fig. 1, supports a deck 2 in which a table 10 is adapted to be rotated by a central shaft 16 on which it is mounted. The shaft 16 also drives a star wheel 8 which feeds bottles on to the table 10 where they are supported by resilient rests 9 adapted to be raised by rollers 21 running on a cam track 20. The shaft 16 extends above the table 10 and is journaled in a spider 16<2> supported by pillars 16<3> mounted on the base 4. Each bottle is positioned beneath a guide member 38 supported by a bracket 39 depending from a support or platform 30 rotatable with, and adjustable vertically on, the shaft 16. Above the support 30, a non- rotatable sleeve 59<5> surrounds the shaft 16 and carries at its base a stationary gear carrier 59<4> and on its upper portion a fixed cam 108. As the shaft 16 rotates, the cam track 20 raises the bottle through the guide 38, which contracts the skirt of the cap into a chuck 37, the bottle raising a plunger 40, Fig. 7, disposed in the chuck and a rod 41 secured to it. The rod 41 slides in a sleeve 42 rotatably mounted in a bearing 44 in the support 30 and a bearing 43 in a bracket 47 mounted on that support. Elevation of the rod 41 lifts a collar 51 which surrounds a shaft 52 forming an extension of the sleeve 42, and the collar causes a lever 54, mounted on the bracket 47, to depress a vertical rod 57 and a parallel rod 61 secured to it. A nut 64 on the rod 61 turns a bell-crank lever 65 withdrawing its support from a sleeve 59 slidably mounted on the rod 57 and permitting a spring 58 to lower the sleeve as soon as an extension 59<1> on it has passed off a cam 59<3> on the gear carrier 59<4>. The sleeve 59 carries a second extension 68 connected to a clutch member 70 surrounding the sleeve 42. In its normal, raised position, the clutch member 70 engages a corresponding stationary part 71, but when lowered it engages a clutch member 72 secured to the sleeve 42 and carrying a spiral gear 109. This gear meshes with a spiral gear 110 adapted to be rotated by rack portions 112, 196, Fig. 6, on the gear carrier 59<4> or to be held stationary by feathers 113, 117 thereon. The sleeve 42 receives one and a half revolutions to wind a string 73 about the skirt, the string being drawn from a reel 75 mounted to rotate with some friction on a shaft 76 supported by the shaft 52. The string passes through a tube 86 disposed in the sleeve 42 to a nozzle 74 beyond which it extends to a fixed block 93 against which it is clamped by a pivoted member 92 actuated by a lever 97 mounted on and rocked by a shaft 98 rotatable in bearings in the brackets 39, 47. The shaft 98 carries at its upper end an arm 105. the end of which engages in a cam slot 107 in the cam 108. In operation, as the bottle is moved clockwise from the left hand side of Fig. 6, the sleeve 42 is held stationary by the feather 113 until the cam track 20 has raised the bottle. The bottle top, raising the plunger 40. engages the sleeve 42 with clutch member 72 and as the pinion 110 passes, beyond the feather 113, the rack 112 rotates the sleeve and winds the string about the skirt. Sealing-wax applying mechanism. A blob of sealing-wax is applied to the overlapping portions of the string and to the skirt by nozzles 124, 125, Fig. 6, acting in succession. The wax is heated in a pot 119, Figs. 13 and 18, provided with a bottom 131 formed with grooves 138 and adapted to be rotated step by step by a paw] 168. The pawl is actuated by a cam 146, Figs. 1 and 7, in the yoke 68, the cam rocking a lever 149 linked at one end to an arm 155 secured to a, rock shaft 156. A lever 162 secured to the shaft 156 has an extension 162<1> resiliently secured to a lever 166 rotatable mounted on the shaft 156 and formed in one with a lever 167 on one end of which the pawl 168 is mounted. Movement of the lever 167 is checked by an abutment (not shown). but the movement of the lever 162 continues until a post 175 on the lever engages a valve stem 174 to open a valve 172 in a pipe 143 connected to a supply of compressed air. The movement of the pawl 168 brings filled grooves 138 of the bottom 137 beneath closures 139. One closure 139 is in communication with the pipe 143 and the nozzle 124 and the opening of the valve 172 permits the compressed air to drive the sealing wax from the pocket 138 through a channel 140 to the nozzle 124 whence it impinges on the string and skirt of the cap. The nozzle comprises a plug 126 formed with a spiral groove 128 and a tapered front portion 129. The nozzle orifice is spaced from the end of the spiral groove 128 and is elongated transversely to the plane of the string ring, the arrangement being designed to form the wax in an oval with its major axis along the string. When the wax has cooled, the cam 146 engages the other end of the lever 149, moving it back beyond its original position so that the other end of the lever 162 may open a second valve 176 in a pipe 144 connected to the compressed air supply and the groove 138 covered by the second closure 139, the wax from this groove being discharged through the nozzle 125 which is similar in construction to the nozzle 124. Before the pinion 110 leaves the feather 117, the string is severed from the length by shears comprising a fixed blade 180, Fig. 23, and a pivoted blade 181, the pivoted blade forming part of a bell-crank lever the other end of which engages one or other of two stops 189, 190 in a hollow member 160 secured to a yoke 186, Fig. 6, adjustably mounted on two of the pillars 16<3>. The shears, are mounted on a lever 183 secured to a rock shaft 184 pivoted on a bracket 185 on the yoke 186. On the upper end of the shaft 184 are arms 194, 195 adapted to be engaged by cams 192, 193 on the support 30 to rock the lever 183 and bring the shears into engagement with the wire, the engagement of the bell-crank arm of the shears with the stops 189, 190 effecting the severing and release movements of the blade 181. When the severing is completed, the pinion 110 leaves the feather 117 and the rack 196 rotates the sleeve 42 for a half a turn to bring the end of the string to the grippers 92, 93 ready for the next bottle set on the rest 9. A star wheel 197 secured to the table 10 removes the bottle from the machine into a dellvery shoot (not shown).