Patent GB-519446-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to a machine for preparing cans or like containers for filling
IPC: B67C3/04
Filed: 1938-09-23
Abstract: 519,446. Bottling; opening bottles; embossing. AMERICAN CAN CO. Sept. 23, 1938, No. 27755. Convention date, Nov. 5, 1937. [Class 125 (ii)] [Also in Group XVI] A machine for preparing for filling cans &c. having attached closure elements in container sealing position, comprises feeding devices for advancing containers along a predetermined path of travel, a suction lifting device for moving the closure elements from container sealing position to open position, and having mechanism for cutting off the suction to release the closure elements when in open position, a closure element holding device movable into a position to hold the closure elements open on release from the suction device, a guide for retaining the closure elements in open position during further advancement of the containers by the feeding device and driving mechanism for operating the feeding devices, the suction lifting device and the holding device in timed relation with one another. The closures may be of the kind described in Specifications 470,098, and 470,174, i.e. having a plug e hinged at a staple g and a tab f for carryng the container. Fibre cans, having the closures hermetically sealed thereon, lie on their sides stacked in a magazine A. A can-feeder C, controlled by a can-detector B, pushes the lowermost can into a swastikashaped can-setting-up member D. A plunger E pushes the upright can out of the member D to a position in front of a pusher F which pushes the can into a pocket 221 in an intermittentlyrotating turret H. As the can is pushed on to the turret a device G raises he tab f. The can is then carried past (a) a steam-heated tabmarking mechanism J which embosses, e.g., " Monday" on the tab, (b) a suction device K which raises the plug e, (c) an arm 371 which holds the plug open while the suction device is releasing the plug, (d) a rail 378 which holds the plug open when the arm 371 has released it and (e) a can-rejector L which diverts cans having unopened or improperly-opened plugs through a gap 429 in the turret guide 236. A transfer device M pushes the can out of its pocket into a pocket 495 of a rotary filling machine N. The can-detector B comprises a reciprocating rod 59 carrying a bell-crank lever 88 one arm of which engages a pin 86 and the other arm of which carries pins 111, 112. As the rod 59 moves to the right, Fig. 10, the pin 86 enters a hole 87 in the magazine A. Normally the pin abuts against a can and the lever 88 is thus rocked anti-clockwise. The can-feeder C comprises a reciprocating slide 118 on which is superposed a can-engaging head 117 carrying pawls 114, 115 which are normally (i.e. when there is a regular feed of properly positioned cans down through the magazine A) locked together as shown in Fig. 13, a driving lug 128 on the pawl 114 transmitting motion from the slide 118 to the head 117. If, however, the plunger 86 does not meet a can the shot pin 112 is aligned with the pawl 115 and, as the rod 59 moves to the right, this pin tilts the pawl 115 on its pivot 116, thus disengaging the pawls, a spring-pressed plunger 125 pivoting the pawl 114 so that its lug 128 moves into an "idle" notch 136. The pawls are re-set, when the plunger 86 meets a can, by the long pin 111, which is at such times aligned with the pawl 114. The plunger E is secured to and moves with the slide 118. The tab-raising device G comprises a lever 185 pivoted at 181 and having at one end a wedge-shaped blade 186 and at the other a rod 187 connected to a spring (not shown) which tends to keep the lever 185 in the position shown. The plunger E pushes the can against a plunger device 191 which engages the rod 187 and rocks the lever 185 clockwise so that the blade 186 rests on the can top near the tab f. The tab-marking mechanism J comprises two jaws, one 245 being stationary and the other 247 being pivoted at 248 and forced downward by the toggle arrangement shown. These jaws are carried on a hollow steam-heated arm 241 which is periodically rocked into tab-engaging position. During marking the can is held at a corner by an angular clamping plate 305. The suction device K comprises a suction cup 315 mounted on a curved rack 317 meshing with a pinion 325 oscillated by a straight rack 332. The rack has rotated from the dotted line position to the full line position and has released the plug. The can-rejector L comprises a detecting pin 381 mounted to move with a vertically reciprocating shaft 384. If the pin, -on its downward movement, meets an unopened, or imperfectly-opened plug e an arm 383 rocks a bell-crank 435 clockwise, thus shifting a plate 442 to the left, releasing a lug 455 and allowing a spring 461 to press a driving finger 462 into a notch 463 of an oscillating sleeve 386. This sleeve thus transmits its motion to the bushing 422 on which the finger 462 is mounted and the bushing shifts can-deflecting segments 428 into the path of the can.