US2498443A - Bottle capping machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1950 A. c. NAccARATib ET AL 2,498,443

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE V Filed Nov. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors Antonio 6. Naccararo Raymond E. McGau/ey Feb. 21, 1950 A. c. NACCARATO ETAL 2,498,443

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 By waoizih Feb. 21, 1950 A. c. NACCARATO ET AL 2,498,443

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4. g

Fig. 5.

Inventors Antonio 0. Naccararo Raymond E. McCau/ey Patented Feb 21, 1950 -'BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE "Antonio 0. Net-teams and Raymond El -MoGauley, ,Bos Angelesg' calif.

Application November 29, 1948,"Serial'No.' 62,442

v 12 Claims.

This is a continuation in-part' of our co-pen'd- =ingapplication Serial No.-604',43 6, filed Iliilyll,

1945, and abandoned as of November "30,1948.

The primary object-of this invention is'to ap- -ply closures to-receptacles, as caps on"bottles, by

utilizing a preselected maximum force of application, force above a: preselected value releasing avalve so that the effective force-of application decreases.

Another object of the inventionis to apply caps to bottles by means of adev-ice which "includes a pair of relatively slidable cylindersand a piston disposed in and separatingsaid cylinders into fluid chambers with passages in said-piston,

-fiuid in said cylinders, a valve on the lowerside of said piston closing certain of said l-pa'ssag'es when the iiuidin the lower chamber is put under pressure bythe initialpressing of "a cap on a bottle, during -this-- period, the other passages being closed by a-pressure responsive vaivemember, then when the-pressure in the lower'cha'mb'er' reaches-a predetermined value, thepressure responsive valve members opens its appurtenant passages allowing the fluid underipressure 'to flow into the upper chamber, however, shortly after the pressure responsive valve opens' thehigh pressure in the lower chamber is relieved by fluid flowing into the upper chamber-and the pressure responsive valve closes the bottle is completely capped at thattime and the device moved '(or the next bottle moved with respect to'the'device) meanwhile the cylinders are extended with respect to each other by the influence-of. gravity, causing the first mentioned or lower valve member to move to the passage opening position thereby-allowing the fluid in the upper cham- -'berto flow into the lower-chamber,the" 'device i then being in-condition fora secondop'eration.

A further object "of this inventionds' to-incorporate in -oneeof "the cylinders a resiliently biased or urgedplunger-cylinder used to transmit cap application force from the device to a bottle "or from the bottle to the device, -dep'ending'bn whichelement is stationary with"-resp'ect tothe other and to; supply cushioningmeansin addition to the resilient urging means for the" plunger- -cylinder.

Ancillary'objects and features ofnovelty such as simplicity of structure will becomeapparent to those skilledv in the-art, in following'thede scription of the preferred form of the'inv'enti'on illustrated'in the accompanying" drawings'fwh'erein z v p I Figure 1 is an elevational' view' showing the invention-adapted -for use'in- 'conjun'ctionwitn relativelymovable "bottles for "capping purposes andal'so teaching" the utility of the'device" in Figure 2 is a longitudinal 'sectionalwiew'of the structure forming the present invention, showing the-same "before "it engages a bottle for capping purposes;

Figure 3 Ba longitudinal sectional view of' the device shown in Figure 2, the elements being 'in relative position at the instant "when fa "preselected value of force is applied to the bot'tlecap, "whereby the pressure "responsive valve opens "certain passages thereby 'permi'ttingfluid' tofrjush from the'lower' chamber into the upper chamber; Figure 4 is an elevational view of the'capand piston utilized in conjunction with'the invention; Figure 5 'is'an elevational View ofthe outer cylinder;

Figure"6is an elevational viewof the inner cylinder;

"Figure '7 is'a perspective view'of the plunger "cylinder;

Figure} is an elevational view of'the crimping head used inconjunction With the "remainder of the structure;

Figure 9 Ban 'elevat'ionalview 'of'the'cr'own receiving mechanism, portions being broken away in se'ction'to'illustrate details of'construction; and 30.

Figure 10 is an elevational view-portions being broken away in section to illustrate internal "structure'of the device, teaching itsuse'in con- "junctionwithia mannerism of'applying caps to 'bottleswhereby the entire device is reciproc'at'ed "and the" bottle-held "relatively stationary, the "reciprocating meansbeing illustrated; schemati- "cally.

The instant'device described herein isan attachment for'use in conjunction" with'various types of existing apparatus or which may be used in conjunction with an entirely new framing apparatus. The broadest purpose of ftheinve'nti'on "is to' applybottle' caps tobo'ttles' or oth'ertypes of closures for various'receptacles.

Referring'toFigure 1 'it will be" seen'"that' a number "of the devices may' be' attached to a relatively" 'stationairybeam I 0 "in gang fashion.

"In this instance a reciproca'table table" l2 'sup- "ports a"nu1'n'ber of" bottles 14 for reciprocating movement with 'respectto' the'bottle capping attachments. For illustrative purposes,'it is seen that the table IZ'maybe reciprocated by'means "of a rotating camlfihaving a ca'm follower I8 in 'engagement'tnerewith. The cam followeibeing mounted for "rotation-onthe bottom sur'face a o of the table I2 imparts a reciprocatory movement to the table. Ifdesired, the device may be utilized in another manner, that is, as shown in Figure 10. Here, the bottle I4 is maintained relatively stationary, while the capping attachment reciprocates thereover by any suitable means such as by operation of a conventional crank 22 and link 24 mechanism which is attached to a cross-head 26, operating through a uide 28.

Bottle capping structure An outer cylinder 30 is supplied with an outer peripheral flange 32 having'recesses 34 and 36 therein for accommodation of fastening screws 38. A closure or cap 40 for this cylinder is fixed to the upper open end thereof by means of the screws 38 which are threadly disposed in the member 10. When the device is adapted for use as shown in Figure 10, the screws 38 will anchor in a lower enlarged portion 42 of the crosshead 25.

A boss 44 is fixed to the cap or closure 40 and has an internally threaded opening accommodating the piston rod 45. It is noted that both the member I and the enlarged portion 42 have openings 48 formed therein accommodating the boss 44 for centering purposes.

The said piston rod 48 has a piston head' 50 fixed thereto, or formed integral therewith as is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thls piston is disposed in the bore of an inner cylinder 52, thereby separating it into fluid chambers 54 and 55, respectively. The outer cylinder 30 and inner or second cylinder 52 are slidably disposed with respect to each other; with means being provided for limiting the relative movement of one with respect to the other. This meanslconsists of the outer cylinder being formed with bores 58 and 60, respectively, of different diameters. The larger bore is at the top of the outer cylinder 30 and has the outer peripheral flange 62 of the inner cylinder 52 slidable therein, seating on the shoulder formed at the junction of the bores when the cylinders are in their extended position.

In order that the piston be maintained firmly attached to the cap 40, a lock nut 66 is threadedly disposed on the piston rod 48 and engages the lower portion of the boss 44. Also provided on the threaded portion of the piston rod 46 is a pair ofnuts t3 and 70, respectively, cooperating to form a stop. A spring 12 or other suitable resilient urging means is disposed on the piston rod 45, being concentric therewith and reacts on the stop formed by the nuts 58 and 70. The oppositeend of the spring I2 engages I a fluid pressure responsive valve member 14 which seats on the upper surface or side of the piston head 50, and which is slidable on the piston rod 46.

Certain mechanical expedients may be resorted to in conjunction with the specific structure as found desirable. An example is the utility of piston rings is which are disposed-in the 4 valve member 84 which is slidable on depending screws 85, attached to the piston head 50. This check valve member 84 has an opening 88 in the center thereof so that it cannot cover the passage 89. p

The lower end of the inner cylinder 52 has vertically aligned bores 90 and 92, respectively, therein accommodating a plunger or plunger cylinder 96. This plunger cylinder is reciprocable in the bores 90 and 92 and is constantly urged outwardly of the inner cylinder 52 by means of a spring 98 or other suitable urging means of a resilient nature. The spring is seated within the central opening of the plunger 96 and engages thematerial of the inner cylinder 52 between the chamber 54 and the upper end of thebore 90. This structure is utilized for transmitting force set up between the bottle cap while capping operations are taking place and the lower chamber 54 which has fluid therein.

An annular flange Hill is formed on the external surface, of the piston cylinder 96 and is operable in the bore 92-. Spacers I02 are disposed on the flange I 00 and are used for purpose of regulating the extent of crimping. As the flange I00 reaches the uppermost position of its travel, the spacing rings I02 engage the shoulder between the bore 90 and the bore 92 limiting the travel of the piston cylinder 96 with respect to the cylinder 52 thereby limiting the inward travel of the bottle neck relative to the device.

Limiting the downward travel of the plunger cylinder 96 is the crowner head member I04 which is disposed in a larger bore (unnumbered) at the lower end of the bore 92. This crowner head member has an inclined inner wall I06 for squeezing inwardly the crimped portion of conventional bottle caps as shown at I08. The annular shoulder of flange I00 simply engages the upper edge or side "offthis crowner head member I04. Also, the bottom surface of the plunger cylinder is smoothly curved as seen at I I0 to facilitate crowning operations.

.A collar H2 is internally threaded and removably disposed on the lower end of the inner cylinder 52. An outwardly flared guide H4 is fixed to the collar H2 and a crown inlet chute H5 is in communication with the crown receiving zone at the end of the said chute; A flange H8 is disposed in the flared member H4 whereon the crowns are adapted to seat before crowning operations.

Operation The mode of operation for the attachment is identical, whether the attachment be applied as shown in Figure l or as shown in Figure 10. Whether the crowning attachment moves with relation to the bottle I4 or thebottle I4 moves with relation to' the crowner attachment is immaterial.

, Viewing Figure 2 it willbe seen that the crowner attachment is in position for applying the single crown I05, to the bottle I4. As the bottle moves upwardly with respect to the attachment, the neck thereof passes through the seat III? for cap I08. Then, the bottle I4 moves slightly further upwardly and the spring 98is compressed slightly by application of theforce between the crown on the bottle and the crowner attachment (due to the relative movement therebetween);

This force is immediately transmitted through the material of the'inner cylinder 52into the lower chamber 54 which maintains a fluid-therein.

This initial application of force causes-the first; valve member 84 to close. the first valve passage on passages 82. Accordingly, further movement of the bottle I4 upwardly causes an increased fluid pressure inthe saidchamber 54;

While this fluid pressure is-being' increased in the chamber 54', it is (the pressure) reacting: onthe fluid pressure responsive valvemember or second.- va-lve member 142 This condition occurs due to the opening 88' in thelower valve memberand secondpassages-ml-i When fluid pressure of sufiiciencyis present in the chamber 54- to overcome the counter-forceof thespring 1 2', the valvemember M will open.

However, while this isoccurring (thepressure increasing in the chamber 54) the inner cylinder 52 moves steadily upwardly within the outer c'yl inder 302 At the instant that the fluid pressure in the chamber 54 issufficient to overcome the counterforce. of the spring-12; the valve member 14-" opens and the cylinder- 52 is moved upwardly within the outer'cyl-inder 3U; this operational -conditionbeing shown in Figure 3.

By adjustment ofthe stopformed by the nuts 10 and- 68- respectively, the effective spring pressure may be regulated whereby a preselected force is necessary 'to open the valve-member M At that time the fluid in the chamber 54 rushes intothe chamber 56 thereby relieving the pressure in the said chamber 54; Hence, the-spring 1 2 exerting the larger 1 force again closes the passages: 8.0.

As a result ofthe above; the stop maybe ad'- justed to a preselected position so that only a predetermined pressure will be applied to the bottle cap; [-981 and then-the pressure willsl'i'ghtl'y fallofi: due to the facttha-t the valve'member 14' exposes a greater area to the fluid pressure. From thereon, the pressure remains constant no matter how. much. faster the bottle [4. is urged upwardlyinto the relatively stationary device.

This, of course, is stated within the practical limits of the: size: of elements. and relationship of parts. It is apparent that by improper operation the bottle M may simply be urged upwardly an extremely large amount thereby crushingthe bottle, but the stroke t either thecrowner attachmentor: the table I2 is regulated by common mechanical means, the instant crowner attachment compensating for irregularities in size of bottles or varying sized bottles.

While the fluid in the chamber 5 7 isbeing placed under pressure and while it is allowed esca-pement upon reaching the preselected value of pressure, the bottle Wis-moved steadily upward into thecrowing-head member [M thereby crimping the lower edge of the crown P0 8 around the bottle top. By so crimping the same, the diameter of the crown I08 isreduced, so that itwill be of a smallersize thereby easily passingt-hrough the seat H8 which supported the crownor; cap before the crimpingopera-tion began.

The spring 98' constantlyapplies a-forceonthe crown F08; whereby the bottle [4 being lowered is maintained in a steady condition until. it has passed through (substantially) the seat H 8:

Since a portion of the fluid has passed; from the chamber'54 into the chamber 56, it must. be returned to the chamber 54= inorder to" perform the second crowning operation on anotherbottl'e. Hence, as the bottle M is beingmoved' from" the inner cylinder 52, the said inner cylinder 52' is allowed to fall downwardly with respect to the outer, cylinder 30. due, to the force of gravity. The

Spring, 'llireacting, on the valve; Tdi closesthe pas,-

sageszafli Hence; thevalve-imcmber &4: will simply fall. by the. force of gravity:- to the passage; 82: opening positionthereby allowing the fluid which was trapped in the upper chamber: 562' to return. to the lower chamber" 54;, This: placesv the; ap-- paratus. in a: condition, as. shown. in Figure- 2;. ready for. alsecondi operation on another bottle;

ln instances wherein onezof: the bottles IA is urgedv inwardly with respect to the I crowner head' attachment such. an extentztha-t the plunger cylinder 96: reaches: the inwardmost travel thereof; the spacing rings or members. I502. engage the shoulder between the bore 90. andbores92 therebyserving the effect of a stop of crimping.

The operation of the feeding mechanism is deemed-obvious. Caps. or other closures simply fall.v from. the gravity feed-J chute. I20. into the chute HGl which is. attached as described above. One-cap following: closely the previous cap simpl yfillsqin atathe proper position on the seat llflsror crowning operations.

It isappreciated that variations. may be made without departing from the spirit. of the invention.

Havingdescribed the invention, .what is claimed as new is:

1. A bottle capping device comprising anouter cylinder having concentric bores of difierentdiiameters and. an annularv internal seat: formed between said bores; a second cylinder having an outwardly: extending peripheral flange aboutv its upper end'disposed in the enlarged bore in said firstv mentioned. cylinder and having vertically spaced aligned bores of'different'diameters, a'cap plate for said first mentioned cylinder, a depending ported piston adjustably' supported by said cap plate for. operation. in the upper bore in said second cylindenra valve carriedbysaid piston for opening and closing the-port in said piston, a hollow: plunger cylinder operable in the lower bore in saidnsecond' cylinder; resilient means for urging the hollow plunger cylinder to its: foremost. position, a, spacing ring in the lower end of said; second cylinder, and means in said second cylinder for-crimping a cap on a bottle neck'when said second cylinder and abot-tl'elare moved with respect to eachother.

2'. The combination of claim 1, and a combined bottle neck receivingthroatand' crowncap feedingchutesecured' to the lower end ofv said second cylinder.

3. A bottle capping device-comprising an outer fluid retaining cylinder, an inner fluid retaining cylinder slidably disposed in said outer cylinder, means associated with said cylinders limiting-"- the sliding movement of said cylinders relative to each other, a piston: disposed? in said! cylinders having a first and" asecond passage therein a first valve member carried by' said piston and selectively opening and closing said first passage, a fluid pressure responsive valve member: disposed' in opening. and closingrelation with said second passage-,- meanscarried by sai'dinner cylinder for crimping bottle caps on bottles and means disposed in said inner cylinder for transmitting force from a bottle cap while-it is being applied to a bottle to said-valve members.

4. A bottle capping device comprising-an outer fluid retaining cylinder, aninner fluid retaining cylinder slidably disposed in said" outer cylinder, means'associated with said cylinders limiting the sliding movement of said; cylinders relative to each other, a, piston disposed in said cylinders having. a first; and. a second passa e therein, a.

first. valve. member carried. by saidn ston' and selectively opening and closing said first passage, a fluid pressure responsive valve member disposed in opening and closing relation with said second passage, means carried by said inner cylinder, for crimping bottle caps on bottles and means disposed in said inner cylinder for transmitting force from a bottle cap while it is being applied to a bottle to said valve members, said pressure responsive valve member being disposed on said piston, a piston rod extending from said piston, and adjustable stop disposed on said piston rod, and resilient means reacting on said stop and said pressure responsive valve member.

5. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a force on the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value, whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: an outer liquid retaining cyl inder and an inner liquid retaining cylinder slidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders with respect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having a piston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said'inner cylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by said inner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means for transmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while aclosure is being applied to a receptacle, passages in said piston, and valve members carried by said piston closing said passages, means reacting on saidpiston rod and one of said valve members retaining it in the passage closing position until a' predetermined liquid pressure is applied thereon from the lower chamber.

6. Means for applying by application of a force on the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value, whence the force decreasesbelow the preselected value comprising: an outerliquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinder slidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders with respect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having a pistonrod carried by said closure, said piston separating said inner cylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by said inner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means for transmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closure is being applied to a receptacle at which time it will be opened allowing fluid to flow into the upper chamber, and

said force transmitting means including a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, and a spring constantly urging said last-mentioned piston outwardly of said inner cylinder.

7. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a force on the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value, whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: an outer liquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinder slidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders with respect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having 'a piston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said inner cylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by said inner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means for transmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closure is being applied to a receptacle, passages in said piston, and valve members carried by said piston closingsaid passages, means reacting on said piston rod and one of said valve members retaining it in the passage closing position until a predetermined liquid pressure is apclosures on receptacles plied thereon from the lower chamber, a second valve member carried by said piston closing other of said passages while liquid pressure is being applied to said first mentioned valve member.

8. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a force on the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value, whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: an outer liquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinder slidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders with respect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having a piston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said inner cylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, 'means carried by said inner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means for transmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closure is being applied to a receptacle, a first passage in said piston and a valve member carried by said piston closing said passage by liquid pressure in said lower chamber, second passage in said piston, and a second valve member closing said second passage, means retaining said second valve member in the passage closing position until a predetermined liquid pressure is present in the lower chamber.

9. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a force on the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value, whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: an outer liquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinder slidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders with respect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having a piston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said inner cylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by said inner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means for transmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closure is being applied to a receptacle, a first passage in said piston and a valve member carried by said piston closing said passage by liquid pressure in said lower chamber, second passage in said piston, and a second valve member closing said second passage, means retaining said second valve member in the passage closing position until a predetermined liquid pressure is present in the lower chamber including a spring reacting on said second valve member, and a stop adjustably disposed on said piston rod having said spring seated thereon.

10. A device for applying caps to bottles comprising an outer cylinder having bores of diiferent diameters, an inner cylinder slidable in said bores and having a flange in the larger of said bores, said inner cylinder having vertically spaced bores of difierent diameters, a cap plate for said outer cylinder, a depending piston having ports supported by said cap plate for operation in one of the bores of said inner cylinder, a valve carried by said piston for opening and closing at least one of said ports, a spring constantly urging said valve member in the port closing position, a second valve carried by piston closing at least one other of said ports, a plunger cylinder operable in the other bore in said inner cylinder, resilient means urging said plunger cylinder outwardly of said inner cylinder, spacing means in said last mentioned'bore engaged by said plunger piston, and means carried by said inner cylinder for crimping caps on bottle necks.

11. For use in crowning machines, a crowner attachment comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder slidable in said outer cylinder,

means associated with said cylinders for limiting the sliding travel of the cylinders with respect to each other, means for seating a crown at the lower portion of said inner cylinder for applica} tion on a bottle, resiliently urged means for trans mitting force caused by application of a crown to a bottle to the bore of said inner cylinder,' a piston disposed in the bore of said inner cylinder separating said bore into an upper and lower fluid chamber, and means carried by said piston responsive to the pressure in the lower chamber for relieving the pressure in the lower chamber and for the passage of fluid from said lowe chamber to the upper chamber.

tion on a bottle, resiliently urged means for transmitting force caused by application of a crown to a bottle to the bore of said inner cylinder, a piston disposed in the bore of said inner cylinder separating said bore into an upper and lower fluid chamber, and means carried by said piston responsive to the pressure in the lower chamber for relieving the pressure in the lower chamber and for the passage of fluid from said lower chamber to the upper chamber including passages in said piston, a piston rod supporting said' piston, a closure for said outer cylinder supporting said piston rod, a valve member mountedflfor axial movement on said piston rod, and resilient means reacting on said piston rod and said valve member constantly urging said valve member in the passage closing position.

ANTONIO c. NACC'ARATO. RAYMOND E. M'cCAULEY.

, No references cited.

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