Patent GB-807085-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for sealing containers
Inventor: HOHL JOHN
IPC: B67B3/20
Filed: 1955-11-15
Abstract: 807,085. Capping bottles. OWENS-ILLINOIS GLASS CO. Nov. 15, 1955, No. 32598/55. Class 125(2). A container sealing apparatus includes an elongated base member; a horizontal conveyer extending along and carried by the base member to convey containers through the machine ; horizontally travelling endless belts mounted adjacent to the conveyer and travelling at the same speed as the conveyer for grinding the containers ; a motor on the base member ; an upper housing arranged above the base member ; a cap delivery means, a cap affizing mechanism, and a distributor of steam or inert vapour, all carried by the upper housing; means for displacing the upper housing vertically relative to the base member to adjust the relationship between the conveyer and cap affixing mechanism; the said elements carried by the upper housing all having driving connections with the motor so that their actions take place in coordination and simultaneously with the movement of the conveyer. The apparatus preferably also includes a coder, a head-spacing mechanism arranged on the upper housing, and a worm mounted on the base member adjacent the conveyer for timing and spacing the containers. Vertical adjustment of upper housing. The base 20 carries a cylindrical sleeve 30 into which telescopes a hollow column 31 depending from the upper housing 21. Elevating screws are journalled into a bracket 32 secured to the base of the sleeve 30, are threaded to nuts at the lower ends of vertical sleeves integral with the upper housing, and have sprockets at their lower ends driven by a chain 47 trained over a sprocket 39 connected by shaft 40, mitre gearing and a universal joint to a rod 46, rotation of which by a crank handle raises or lowers the upper housing. Cap feed and shoot. The caps 201 are fed from the stack to a shoot by a pair of rolls 89, Figs. 7, 8 and 10, and means are provided to stop the operation when the shoot is filled. The rollers 89 are driven from shaft 93 which is connected to power shaft 98 through a clutch comprising a wheel 95 keyed to shaft 93 and which carries a spring biased pawl 100 engaging a single ratchet 99 on a wheel 97 keyed to the shaft 98. A pawl stop 104 is held by a spring 105 so as normally to lie in the path of the rotating pawl. A cam 108 is fixed to shaft 98 and cam follower 109 is pivoted on an arm 110 keyed to a shaft 111 and the fluctuating motion of the shaft is transmitted to the pawl stop to pivot it in and out of the path of the pawl to give an intermittent feed of caps to the shoot. An arm 115 varying a finger 116 lying in the path of caps down the shoot is keyed to the shaft 111 at the end remote from the arm 110. If the finger strikes a cap in the shoot the action of the cam is nullified and the pawl stop remains in the path of the ratchet disconnecting the drive between shafts 98 and 93 until the shoot is cleared. The cap feed mechanism includes a platform 118, pivoted at 119, and caused to move out of alignment with the shoot when jamming of caps occurs. The free end of platform 118 has attached a bracket 192 with a pin 193 sliding in slot 194 on an arm 195 keyed to a short shaft 196 and carrying a detent lever and a locking lever. A lever 199 is mounted on shaft 111 and is normally moved as the caps are fed but if the platform is forced down by an accumulation of caps the pin 193 forces the lever 195 down turning shaft 196 and the locking lever is brought into engagement with lever 199 preventing further feeding of caps. The shoot has guide rails 122 which may be laterally adjusted for differing sizes of cap, and a spring loaded roller 126 at its free end with a tapered shoe to guide the caps beneath the sealing mechanism. The ends 134 of the guide rails 122 are pivoted to allow free movement of caps. Sealing the mechanism. Caps are sealed onto the containers by pressure from a belt 138. A bracket 136 is mounted in the upper housing and carries shaft 85 which has a drive connection to the motor and on which turns an idler sprocket 137. The bracket 136 also supports a yoke 139 from a shaft 140, the yoke bearing an eccentric sleeve 146 and a shoe 145 pressing on the belt 138. The pressure belt is wound on sprockets 137, 144 and is driven by a chain from shaft 85 to a sprocket on the shaft carrying sprocket 144. Side belt mechanism. A pair of endless belts 166 run continuously at the speed of the conveyer and engage opposed sides of the containers as they receive caps from the shoot and pass through the sealing mechanism. A pair of gear boxes 150 are laterally adjustable and receive drive from the motor transmitting it each to a vertical shaft 156 carrying a pulley 157. Each gear box has a depending bracket 159 carrying a rod 160. At the end of the rod is a spring pressed extension carrying a pulley 162. A belt, preferably having serrations or notches, is passed around pulleys 157, 162 and is kept taut by the spring pressure on the extension. Along the belt are rollers 166 guiding the belt and having their faces inclined downwardly and inwardly so that when a container passes between the rollers the belts tend to pivot about their upper edges pressing the container down onto the conveyer. Head spacer and coder. A head spacer 25 to remove excess contents from the containers includes a wheel 190 on which are elements which enter the container and displace excess contents. A levelling screw 191 adjusts the height of the head spacer which is pivoted on an arm resting on the screw. After passing the sealing head the containers are stamped by a coder of any construction. Operation. The previously filled containers are transferred to the conveyer 22 by a disc and pass to a worm 23 which spaces them below the head-spacer unit. Each container is then carried beneath the cap shoot and passes between the steadying belts 163 drawing a cap from the shoot and having the cap sealed on by belt 138. During the cap pick-up the container is subjected to a blast of steam or inert gas. The containers then pass to a worm 24 which spaces them beneath the coder 28. They may be washed before removal from the conveyer by disc 29.