Abstract:
An apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler, the apparatus having a motorized mechanism for securely gripping the bottle, a motorized mechanism for raising and lowering the bottle, and a motorized mechanism for rotationally inverting the bottle, the apparatus enabling a person with limited physical strength to lift and move a full upright water bottle from the floor, invert the bottle, and place it neck down into the well of a water cooler.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to devices for lifting a filled upright water bottle, rotating the lifted water bottle to an inverted position, and placing the inverted water bottle into the receiving well of a water cooler. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved mechanism and method for grasping the water bottle and additionally an improved mechanism and method for lifting and inverting the lifted water bottle.  
         [0002]     Many offices and establishments offer bottled water to their employees and patrons. Water bottles are normally associated with a water cooler for dispensing and are initially sealed with a cap which is removed in order that the bottle may be lifted and inverted to be placed neck down into the receiving well of the cooler. These plastic or glass bottles, when full of water, are cumbersome and heavy so that some persons simply cannot perform the task of lifting and inverting the water bottle and then lowering it into the well of the cooler.  
         [0003]     An apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The apparatus disclosed contemplates a mechanism for gripping the water bottle comprising a plate supporting a pair of flexible fastening straps including conventional fasteners such as Velcro, for releasably embracing and supporting the bottle. The apparatus disclosed further contemplates a mechanism for rotating the water bottle, as it is being lifted, comprising a pair of 90° rotating cams attached via a support shaft to the rear of the plate. The cams are adapted to cam or bear against two rotatable bearings, mounted in series to the vertical frame of the apparatus, which serve as cam followers in causing the cams, support shaft, and plate to rotate in two 90° increments so that a water bottle mounted to the plate will turn from an upright position to an inverted position as the bottle is lifted.  
         [0004]     In use, the prior art apparatus starts with the lifting mechanism at its lowered position. A full water bottle resting upright on the ground is secured to the lifting mechanism by the fastening straps. Next, the bottle is elevated by the lifting mechanism, being rotated during the lift by 90° when the first cam encounters the first roller bearing and by another 90° when the second cam encounters the second roller bearing. Next, the bottle is lowered by the lifting mechanism so that the bottle comes to rest on a water cooler with the bottle neck positioned inside the well of the cooler. Finally, the fastening straps are removed to release the bottle and the apparatus is moved away. To reset the apparatus so that it is ready to use on another water bottle, the lifting mechanism is returned to its lowered position. During the process of securing, elevating, and rotating the bottle, a bottle closure device is disposed on the mouth of the bottle so that no water spills from the inverted bottle, the bottle closure device adapted to interact with the well of a water cooler to open under the weight of the water bottle once the bottle is placed into the well.  
         [0005]     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle that includes an improved mechanism and method for gripping a water bottle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle which includes an improved mechanism and method for rotating a lifted water bottle from an upright position to an inverted position, independently from the lifting mechanism, so that the bottle may be inverted either during the lift or afterward.  
         [0006]     Other objects will appear hereinafter.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler which includes both a bottle gripping mechanism and a bottle rotating mechanism that are significantly different from that disclosed in the prior art, in combination with the bottle lifting mechanism previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly].  
         [0008]     The bottle gripping mechanism of the present invention includes a pair of pivotably mounted gripper arms actuated by a motor driven cam. The gripper arms secure the water bottle to the lifting mechanism surely, and can be varied in construction to accommodate water bottles of different geometries, as required. The bottle rotating mechanism of the present invention includes a rotatably mounted horizontal support shaft suspending the bottle gripping mechanism from the bottle lifting mechanism, the rotatably mounted support shaft being actuated by a motor.  
         [0009]     In performing their respective functions as part of the apparatus of the present invention, the three mechanisms interact as follows. The gripping mechanism grips a water bottle. The rotating mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism along with the bottle. The lifting mechanism raises and lowers the rotating mechanism and the gripping mechanism along with the bottle. During at least the steps of rotating the bottle to an inverted position and then lowering it into the well of a water cooler, a bottle closure device (similar or equivalent to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], as previously described) is disposed on the mouth of the bottle so that no water spills from the inverted bottle before it comes to rest in the well of the water cooler.  
         [0010]     In use, the apparatus starts with the lifting mechanism at its lowered position, with the gripping mechanism released from its gripping state. A full water bottle resting upright on the ground is first grabbed by the gripping mechanism. Next, the bottle, along with the gripping and rotating mechanisms, is elevated by the lifting mechanism. During or after the lift, the bottle, along with the gripping mechanism, is inverted by the rotating mechanism. Next, the bottle, along with the gripping and rotating mechanisms, is lowered by the lifting mechanism so that the bottle comes to rest on a water cooler with the bottle neck positioned inside the well of the cooler. Finally, the bottle is released by unclamping the gripping mechanism and the apparatus is moved away. To reset the apparatus so that it is ready to use on another water bottle, the empty gripping mechanism and the rotating mechanism are then lowered by the lifting mechanism, restoring the lifting mechanism to its lowered position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along Line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  looking down showing the gripper mechanism, the rotator mechanism, and the elevator assembly of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is the same view as  FIG. 2  showing the gripper arms disengaged.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the cam and the connecting arms to the gripper arms in the disengaged position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3A  is an enlarged view of the cam and the connecting arms to the gripper arms in the engaged position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0018]     Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  an isometric view of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus  10  of the present invention. The apparatus  10  includes a base  12  which may be of welded tubular steel frame construction or of aluminum or suitable plastic construction or a combination of each. Swivel castors or wheels  14  may be at each of the corners of the base  12  to advantageously render the apparatus  10  readily movable or portable in any direction from one location to another.  
         [0019]     The base  12  is formed with an opening  16  so that legs  18  and  20  can straddle an upright water bottle  22  resting on the floor. The base  12  has mounted thereon a bracket  24  supporting an elevator motor  26  with attached reduction gearbox  28  and journaling the lower end of a vertical threaded rod or screw  30 . The base  12  also supports a vertical elevator frame  32  that includes at least one vertical rail  34  and a vertical elevator rail  36 . The elevator frame  32  includes a top plate  38  to which the top of each rail  34  and the top of the elevator rail  36  are connected and the threaded rod  30  is suitably journaled. A pair of handles  40  optionally extends from the elevator frame  32  for facilitating movement of the apparatus  10  on the wheels  14 .  
         [0020]     The bottle elevator assembly  42 , as illustrated in finer detail in  FIGS. 2 and 2 A, comprises an elevator bracket  46  and an elevator nut  56 , and is integrally connected to a rotator mechanism  68  comprising a support sleeve  58  and a rotator motor  62 . The bottle elevator assembly  42  cooperates with the threaded rod  30  and the elevator rail  36  in elevating the bottle  22 .  
         [0021]     The elevator bracket  46  embraces the vertical elevator rail  36 . Nylon roller bushings  48  are rotatably mounted on clevis pins  50  and engage with the rail  36  in facilitating the vertical raising and lowering of the bottle  22 . The clevis pins  50  also serve to couple the angle iron tensioners  52  to the bracket  46 . Tensioning bolts  54  extend through and bear against the pair of angle iron tensioners  52  on opposed sides of the rail  36  and serve to pull the associated pair of tensioners  52  together and consequently pull the roller bushings  48  tightly against the rail  36 .  
         [0022]     Connected to the bracket  46  is the elevator nut  56  that meshes with the threads of the vertical threaded rod  30  in raising and lowering the elevator assembly  42 . The elevator bracket  46  is also rigidly affixed to a horizontally oriented support sleeve  58  that is adapted for receiving the rotatable support shaft  60 . Further affixed to the support sleeve  58  by the motor mounting bracket  66  is the rotator motor  62 .  
         [0023]     The horizontal support shaft  60  is supported rotatably inside the support sleeve  58 . The rotator motor  62  drives a first end of the support shaft  60  via the rotator drive coupling  64 . Mounted at the opposite end of the support shaft  60  is the bottle gripping mechanism  70 . In the preferred embodiment, the rotator drive coupling  64  comprises a belt  92  tensioned about a sheave  94  disposed on the output shaft of the rotator motor  62  and another sheave  96  disposed on the one end of the support shaft  60 .  
         [0024]     The bottle gripping mechanism  70  comprises an alignment plate  78 , a gripper motor  72 , and a pair of gripper arms  82 . The alignment plate  78  is rigidly affixed to the end of the support shaft  60  and provides mounting support for the other components of the gripping mechanism  70 . The upper and lower portions of the plate  78  are shaped to accommodate a water bottle  22 . Mounted to the rear side of the plate  78 , below the support shaft  60 , is the gripper gearbox  74  that, in turn, supports a gripper motor  72 . The gripper motor  72  drives the gripper gearbox  74 , and the output of the gripper gearbox  74  drives the gripper cam  76 , which is rotatably mounted through the support shaft  60 .  
         [0025]     Further, affixed to the rear side of the plate  78  are two symmetrically positioned gripper hinge pins  84  about which the pair of gripper arms  82  are pivotably mounted. A corresponding pair of connecting arms  80  pivotably couples the gripper cam  76  to each of the gripper arms  82 , so that rotation of the cam  76  causes the gripper arms  82  to pivot about the hinge pins  84  inwardly and outwardly with respect to the water bottle  22 . Operation of the gripper cam  76  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 3 and 3 A.  
         [0026]     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , each gripper arm  82  comprises an upper arm  86  and a lower arm  88 , interconnected at one end by the hinge pin  84  and at the other end by a cross brace  90 , the arms  86  and  88  being curved or shaped to accommodate a water bottle  22 . It is recognized that many other specific constructions of gripper arms  82  may be equally effective in carrying out the desired function of the gripping mechanism  70 . Additionally, the gripper arms  82  may be configured to accommodate water bottles  22  of any shape.  
         [0027]     The operation of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus  10  may be described as follows. Initially, the apparatus  10  is moved to a location at which it may be associated with a full water bottle  22  that is to be mounted on a water cooler (not illustrated). For convenience of operation, it is also assumed that the valve closure device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], or a similarly functioning device, is on the neck of the bottle  22 . The legs  18  and  20  straddle the bottle  22  that is disposed in the opening  16 . The elevator assembly  42  is in its lowered position so that the alignment plate  78  may be centered on the bottle  22  with the upper and lower curved portions of the plate  78  positioned generally around the upper and lower portions of the bottle  22  and the curved gripper arms  82  positioned around the sides of the bottle  22 .  
         [0028]     Next, the gripper motor  72  is activated by a switch or other activating device, causing the gripper cam  76  to rotate via the gripper gearbox  74  and thus forcing the gripper connecting arms  80  outward. The connecting arms  80 , in turn cause the gripper arms  82  to pivot about the hinge pins  84  inwardly towards the water bottle  22  until the gripper arms  82  are firmly and securely clamped about and against the sides of the bottle  22 . The gripper motor  72  is stopped and locked to retain the gripper arms  82  in this position.  
         [0029]     Next, the elevator motor  26  is activated by a switch or other activating device, causing the threaded rod  30  to rotate via the gearbox  28 , raising the elevator nut  56  up, thus lifting the elevator assembly  42  and the water bottle  22 , guided by the elevator rail  36 . When the bottle  22  has reached sufficient height to be capable of being mounted in a water cooler, the elevator motor  36  is deactivated. During or following the lifting action, the rotator motor  62  is activated by a switch or other activating device, causing the support shaft  60  to rotate within the support sleeve  58  via the rotator drive coupling  64 , and thus rotating the bottle  22 . When the bottle has rotated 180° from an upright position to an inverted position, the rotator motor  62  is deactivated and the water bottle  22  remains suspended vertically with its neck pointing downward.  
         [0030]     The apparatus  10  may now be laterally moved and positioned to align the neck of the bottle  22  with respect to the well of the water cooler. The elevator motor  26  is then activated in the reverse direction, causing the elevator assembly  42  and the inverted water bottle  22  to be lowered. When the neck of the bottle  22  is in the water cooler to a sufficient extent, the elevator motor  26  is deactivated and the elevator assembly  42  stops. The gripper motor  72  is then unlocked and activated in the reverse direction, causing the gripper arms  82  to pivot outwardly from the water bottle  22 , releasing the bottle  22  to rest in the well of the cooler. The apparatus  10  may now be moved away from the water cooler, as the bottle mounting operation is complete.  
         [0031]     To return the apparatus  10  to its original starting position, the elevator motor  26  is activated in the reverse direction until the elevator assembly  42  is at its lowered position. For ease of storage, the gripper motor  72  may also be activated in its forward direction to rotate the gripper arms  82  inwardly. Note that the rotator motor  62  need not be activated since the gripping mechanism  70  is symmetrical about the horizontal axis and thus can function in exactly the same fashion when starting in either the “upright” or “inverted” position.  
         [0032]     Note that each motor may be controlled manually via switches or automatically by using a combination of sensors or limit switches or other control instrumentation. For purposes of the apparatus of the present invention, the method disclosed herein for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler is the same regardless of the means used to activate and deactivate the elevator motor  26 , the gripper motor  72 , and the rotator motor  62 .  
         [0033]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.