CA2162623A1 - Screwcapping and pump placing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A screwcapping apparatus having a torque belt with a maximum predetermined application torque. The belt positively engages the cap or a chuck clamped to the cap to tighten the cap onto a threaded receiving object without exceeding the predetermined application torque. A belt tensioner such as an airspring maintains the tension on the belt to maintain a positive engagement with the cap or the chuck.
Each chuck has two states. A first state allows free rotation of the chuck and the cap gripping jaw mechanism. A second state permits rotation up until a stop or other positioner. Thus, proper orientation is established for the chuck for picking up a pump cap.
A stem straightening guide includes a stem guide element having a channel for capturing a pump tube stem therein. A stem straightening plate is encountered by the pump tube stem as it is within the channel of the stem guide. The stem guide is on an arm that can swing into and out of engagement with the pump tube stem. The stem guide arm is on a shaft that can be raised and lowered to move the stem guide element along the stem guide plate from an upper position to a lower position until the tube is reliably oriented over the opening of a container.

Description

~ckgroi]n~ of th~ l~er.~ on The-pre~ent invention Ls direct~d to a 6crewcapp:ing apparatu~. ~n p~r~icular, the invention may be u~ed ~or screwing pump c~p~ onto containers.
When applylng ~aps to container~ i6 impor~ant that the Appl^Opri~t~ amoun~ o~ tor~ue bs used to flpply ~he capl I~ too much to~que ~ applied, the cap or the contaln~r m~y ~reak from the excess~Ye ~rce. I~ too little torque ~ 8 applied, the c~p ~lght not ~e completely ~ecured to the neck ~0 of t~e container. A~ a cap 16 turn~d onto the tl~ren~ ~f` a container, turnlng i~ rel~tively ~asy unt~l the cap h~ been completely turned on to the th~eads. At thl~ point ~h~
res~ctAnc~ in~reases quickly. It L~ important here ~ha~ e appli~ation torquo ~ predet~r~lned.
C~nvention~ pplng m~chinqs a~e known ~n which each cap is he~d by a chuck and ~urned onto a container. The contalner~ a~Q held a~d preven~e~ from rotating ~eneath the c~p~. Typi~ally, the capping chuck~ ~re ind~idually drivsn ~y th~ir ~wn tor~ue li~l~ed drlve. æuC~ a machine ~ay hav~
~0 six or more capping chuck~ on A turret. When a ~i~f~rent ~ize cont~ r or cap ia to be ~s~mbled on ~h2 ma~h$~e, ~ny t~rque ad~ust~ent would have to ta~e place in e~h vne of t~o capping ~h~tck~ any ~f the capping chucka ~8 improperly adju~ed, th~ ~ch~n~ opera~or~ w~uld need to identify w~ich chuck i~ mi~d~ust~d ~nd then correct tho ~uation.
When applying cap~ that ~ave pumps attached ther~to, the p~p stem 1~ ~e~ igned for eX~6~A ~ ng down into th~
container. Tho ste~ i6 generalLy a flexible plA~tlc tu~c.
30 Before a ~achlne G~n ~crew the ~ap onto a contalner, ~he pump st~ mu~t ~e ~ r~ed pr~perly into th~ con~ainer. One ~pproa~h to straightening the stem for lnsertion into ~
eontainer is disclo~ed in Unlte~ statea Patent No. 4,9R2,554 ~corniani~. corniani d~clo6e~ the u~e of two gripping 35 elemen~s h ld ~oge~her by a heliaal ~pring t~ form a r~la~p.
Each of the ~rippillg element~ ~as a semi-ci~ular rec~s6 ~o a~ to ~or~ a hol~ thro~gh which the pump t~be ~tem ~s to f ~t . The ~rippincl ele~3nt~ ~re open~d an8 clo~d agalnst the tuhe and then l~wer~d to a low~r portion of the tube.
Ti~e cap i~ then lowered onto the container and the gripping element 1~ removed from t'*~Q pU~lp tu1~ ~3tem.
Su~ o~ t.hP InYPr tlon It is an ~ject of the present lnvention to provide ~
~ingl~ ~orque l~elt device for eontrolling the torquo applied to caps being s~re~ onto contAin~r~. In accord~nce with the pump placing ap~ara~u~ o~ 3 invontlon, it 18 an cb~ ect 10 to perform pu~4p ~te~ 1itraight~ning with~ut the u~e of a gripping ~echan~m.
In accor~ance With an ~ odi~ent Or th~3 ~nvention, a ~crew~apping APp~rl~tus lnclude~ mean~ ~or transporting threaded ol~iects al~ng wi~h ~ ap pol~ed for ~cr~wing onte 15 each threRd~d Ob~ ect. A tor~ue ~elt i~; ori~nted wi~h re~ ct to the tran~port~r ~o that the cap~ are ~urned by po~itive enga~ement o~ the cap or lt~ chuck with ~he torque , belt. The t~rque bol~ i~ dri~en ~y ~ clutoh BO a~ to prede~er~ne the appli~-~tion torque. A belt tens10ner ~uch ~0 as an air sprlng m~ntaine ~ known po6ltiv~ engage~ent betw~en the torque ~lt and each CAp or it~ chuc~.
Each of th~ chuc~ head6 ln sccord~nce with an ~bodiment of th~ lnvention can A~ume ono of a nu~bor of 3tate . In a flrst ~tate, the chuck clamp freely rotate~.
25 It l~ in thiB po~ltion th~t ~he ~huck hqad come~ lnto contact with ~he tOrque belt for ~arewlng th~ cap~ onto the container~. In ~hi~ ~tate, the ~w~ clo~e. In a ~econd ~tate, one or more posi~ionerg or ~tops become engagsd a~ a predetor~ined angular dl~pla~ement o~ ~he rotat~ng chuck.

3~ ~hi~ provldes a known orien~a~ion for the ~aws ~o that the chuck hea~ i~ in proper orlentation ~th rs~pect to a pu~p ~pout on the cap. TAus, the chuc~ head can be lifted wlthout the ~aw~ hittlng ~he pu~p spout.
In accordance with tho qtem ~traightenin~ apparatu~ of 35 an embodlment of the inve~tion, ~ 6tem gu~e le~er arm ha~ a ~tem guide at its end. ~he stem guide le~er arm ~ay rotate the stem gulde i~t~ engage~ent with the top of a pump tube - 3 ~

~tem and hol~ the tub~ between th~ ~em ~ulde and a ~t~m g~ldR piate. T~e ~em quid~ lever ~r~ 13 then lowered to a lower poe~ti~n along the ~tem tube. The cap ~ay then be lowered ir.t~ the con~alner and t~e stem lev~r pulled b~k 5 away fro~ the cap.
Th~ torque beit ha~ generaily fewer mo~lng parts thAn provi~lng each cappinq chuck with it~ own torque li~lted drive traln. I~ ~or~ua ad~u~t~ent i8 ne~d~d on the c~pplng machin~, lt i~ ea~ily accomplishod ~y ad~u6~1ng ~he tor~ue 10 b~lt c~utoh. Th~ ~rive for the torque i8 advant~geou~l~
remote ~rom the contalners as they ~re c~pp~d ~hereby providing a ~or6 ~anlt~ry de~ign especially ~or ~ood cont~iners. The ~te~ guidQ can ea~lly be replac~ ~y a guide hAvin~ a d~f~er~nt ~ized gro~ve for rsceivlr~g a 15 dlfferent ~lzed pump ~te~.
Other obj RCt~ ~nd a~vant~g~s of the pres~nt lnvention will become apparent during ~h~ followlng de~ription o~ the pre6ently pre~erred e~bodlmQnt of ~he inv~ntlon t3ken ln conjunction with the drawlngs.
~le~ n~c~1~ti~n ~ ~h~ nrAw~n~
FIG. 1 i~ a ~chematic draw1ng o~ the contalne~ lnt~k~
and di~char~e rel~tlvo to tho pu~p capp~r o~ the presen~
~vention.
~ Ia~ 2 i~ an i~ometrlc ~rawlng of a container ~elng 25 pl~ed ~p by a conta~ner r~cel~ing ~tatlon on th~ pu~p capper ~f the preSent lnv~ntion.
FI~. ~ is ~n ~cmetric dra~ing in partial cross-eection of the contalner cl~p ~s~hani~ for operating the clampe of FI~.l.
FIG. ~ is a plan vieW of a c~p intake portion for use with the pu~p C~pper o~ the prffs~n~ invention.
FIG. 5 18 a c~o~s-s~ctional ~ron~ ~iew o~ ~ c~ppin~
chuck of the pump capper o~ the prOE~ent inven~ion.
FI~. 6 i~ a side vlew o~ the capping chuck o~ FrG. 5, ~I~, 7 ~ ~ photogr~ph ~ the pump ~app~r o~ the present invention.
FI~ ~a ~s a cro6~-~ectionaI ~riew of a pu~p tube ~tem guide o~ the pu~p capper of FIG. 7.
FI~;. 8~ i~ a pl~n view of a ~t~ ~Ulde 6egment o~ YIG.
~a .
~ IG . 9 i~ a pl an v1ew of ~h~ to~ q~s belt apparntus and 5 orientation b~lt apparatus of the p~p capper of FI~. 7.
~ I~. lC ~s a cro~ octional vlew o~ a m~gnet~c clutch ~or u~ with the ~or~ue bel t ~ppa~atus of ~G. 9 .
FIG. ll is a compoæi~e cro~s-60ctiona1 front view o~ an alternate embodlment of a capping Ghuc;~ illustrated with ~aw O clo~ed on the l~ft and ~A~ open on the right.
F~G. 12 iB a ~i~e V~8W of the hub an~ roller o~ FI~;.

pet~ A n~F~cr1pt~on of t)~ ~referr~ ~mh~m~
R~ferr~ng now ~c~ the drawing~ inv~ntion ~hall now 15 be des~ ed in groater detail. contalnerg 12 ar~ typically transported to tlle pu~p capp~r lO on an i ntake c:on~reyer 14 .
FIG. 1 illuatrate~ a ~tho~l r~r conveying cont~iner~; on~o :~q. the pump ~apper lO. Cc~ntainers at~e the typical type of ~hreade~ ob~ eCt capped by the pump c~pper lO of ~he 2 0 inven~ ion . The con~alners general ~y have a threaded n~3~k onto whloh c~p~ wlll be screwed. To prov~d~: the cont.ainer3 12 w~th greate~ ~t~ility, each contiliner ~ay ~e tran~port2d in a puc~ 16. Adjacent the a~mreyer are ad~ustable guide rail~ 1~ to rurther tlelp keep t~e container~ 12 in an 25 uprlg~t poe~lon~ Al~ the conta~ner8 12 and pucks 16 approach the pump placer oapper lO, ~h~ are space~ spart evenly by a rc~tating feed ~crsw ~0. The feed screw ~0 i~ a helix along~ide o~ which the containere 12 are ~oved ~?y the conveyer 14. The ~craw thr~ad of the fes~ sc~ew acts to 3 0 reg~larly 6pace the ~ontainero lZ 80 that they can be properly ~eceived by an intake ~tar wheel 2 ~ . ~he f e~d screw 2 0 i~; ~oun~ed h~rlzontally ~d~ac~3nt ~lle conveyer 14 .
The in~a3ce st~r wh~el 2 2 i~ a ~oxlzon~ally mounted whc~el .
P~cket~ 24 are cut ~n t.~e circuraference of the whee~ Th~
35 pockets 24 reCeive and advance the Containe~rfi 12. ~he ~;tar ~heel 22 rota~e~ counterclockwi~e. A~ the star w~Leel ~2 rot~e~, it receives ~he evenly spaced conta~ner~ 12 fro~

the conveyer 14. The 6tar wheel ~2 i~i driven ~y ~ gear that ~e~;h~s with the m~n ~ear of ~he pump capp~r turr~t dri.ve~
A di~charge wheel 26 i~ al~o shown for r~moving capped cont~iner~ ~rom the pump cE~pper 10.
~ererrlng now to FIG. 2, when ~ cont~iner has been tr~n~rre~ by the lntake ~tar wheel ~2 to th~a pU;Dp capper 10, container alA~p~ 28 on the ~ump cappor 10 gr~b the contalnar r''or proper o~entation ~n the ~:applng proc:e~.
The claJnp6 28 l~re cl~so~ as the cont~iner crosse~ an 10 imaglnary 1 ine d~r~wn b~ween the c:~nt~r of the intAk~ ~tar wheel ~haft ~n~ the mld~lle o~ th~ centor column in the pump capp~r 1~. Upon cro~eing that point, the clA~p~ 2~ ~curel.y grip the container 12 hold~ny it 1 n proper poaltlon wh~ le X~plng lt ~rom ~plrlnlng a~ th~ cap 1~ appl ~d . The turrat 15 16 of the pump capper 10 rotata~ in a cloclcw1~e dlrect:lon.
Ithe contalner~ 1~ are held in place by the clAmp~ 2B
~rou~hout t~e p~p c~p placln~ ~nd ecr~wcapping proce~.
ReferrLng now to FIG. 3, tho cont~lner cl~mp6' gripp~ng a~tion i8 c:ontrolled by roller b~3a~ings attachea to lever~
20 32 supported by cla~p eha~ 34 located below th~ cl~ping table. The clanp sha~t~ 34 8UppO~ ehe C~.A~lp hub~ to which the container cla~p~ re mounte:l. The clalPpln~ aat~on cone6 from cam roll lev~s 32 rtdlng in two h~ ontally m~unted clamp ~am~ locat6d under the clamplng tabls ae ~hown 25 in ~IG. 3. C)ne of the clamp ca~s ls ~or ~h~ front c~amp and the other is for th~ back clamp. ~he cnm roll lever~ 32 are attached to thQ bottom of the sha~s 34 that hold ~he cl~mp hu~e. ~la~p hubs are supporte to wnich t~e ~onta~ner cla~nps 2 8 are mounted .
simultaneous~y with the transfer of container~ on~o the pu~p capper apparatu~, the pu~Pp cape are tran~f~rrad ~nto t~.e pump capper 10 aQ well. The pump cap trancfer tAkes plac.e at an ~lcvation above th~ tran~fer of thQ con~alner~;.
The heigh~ of ~ cap lntake star wheel 42 with re~pec~ ~o the 3~ containerA i~ ad~usted ~epending upon the slze of the pumps ~eing asse~nb~ ed. R~ferrin~ now to FIG . 4, it ~an l~e ~een tAat the pump cap~ are receiv~ along a pump cap ch-ute 40.

A feed~r pl.-~ces ~ llne o~ pump~ ~nto a cap chute ~0. The pu~p cap ~~ute provlde6 ~ trac:k in whlch the pu~p capa slld~. ~rh6 trAc~ la open ~long ite c~nt~ ~n ~-he ~ttom uo that the ~ou~p t~e stem6 ~an hang down from th~ ~ap3. At 5 the bottol3 of th~ chute 4 o, a ~hute end mechani6n~ hold~ back the line, yet ~llow3 th~ ~ap int~ke ~tar wt~eel 42 to take aw~y the pUD~p cap~ one a~ a tim~. The mechani~m ut ~e end of the chute~ 40 19 de6igned to hold the la~t pump cap in position u:~il lt i8 placed lnt.o a pocket ~4 of tho pulnp cap 10 lnt~ke Rtar wh~el 4~ The pu~np c~ 1nt~ke ~tar wheel has a pluralL~y o~ poc3ce~a 44 ~long it~ ~ircumf~2renc:e that re~;el~
the pump c~p~;.
For C~lp5 which do h~ve pus~p f~pout~ and stem~ .,e orientatlon of the pu~p spout $n l~port~nt ~n ord~r to avoid 15 ~nterferon~ w~t~ the ~rlpping of tho cap by th~ ~hu~k of the pu~p capper 10. T~13r~fore th~ int~ke ~ar wh~el 42 rotates pa=t 8 ru1~ rai~ ~S. The rub rail 46 protrude~
$~ ben~ath the ~tAr wheel 42 to rub a~ain~t the hub ~ the pump ste~ a~ the cap~ are moved pi~a~ the rail by t~e int~ke gtar 2~ wheel 42. ~ 5e~i the epo~lt to ~p~n uneil it hi~
- ori~nting pln ~8. ~h~ o~l~nting ptn 48 provided n~x~ to eac~ of thQ pock~t~ 44 an ~he pump cap 5.ntake ~3tar wh~el 42 stops th~ pump spout ln ~ pr~d~t~rmlnsd known orierstation ~or pickup by the ~hu~ on th~a purp capper 10~ Once pA~t 25 the ru~ rail 46, there i~ o~erçd n~ furth~r ln~errup~ on ~o t~e rotatlonal positlon o~ the p~p Cap. ThUg the pu~p c~
and ~por~ e~ain Ln prop~r ort e:ntation ~or pl ckup by t:~e pu~np c~pper 10.
~erring ~ow to FI~i;S. 5, ~ ~nd 7, the pu~p caps are 30 r-~oved rrO~ the 6tar wh~3~1 42 by one of ~hR cap~lng chu~k~
5 0 on ~e pump capp~r ~urr~3t . T~e current e~o~i~ent provid~s ~ ix chucks 5 0 on the turrot . Nowever, a pump capper ~.ay be made wi~h a turr~t of any si~e carrying 2Iny number of chuclcs. The turret ~uppoxt~ a nu~her of shaft6 52, 35 one for eacll ~ppL)~g chuck. ~ach chuck is bolted ~eeurely to one of t~e fih~f~; S~. The chuck inc:ludes a ro~ating por~ion and a portion fixed to the ~haft 52. The fixed portion includas ar. uppar houRing ~4 and a cen~r~l ~pout rcgi~trAtlon shaft 56. At the botto~ end of the 3pO~
regi~tratlon sh~t 56 a ~p~ut regls~ra~on hoo~ 58 ~5 a~t~ched. ~he hoo~ 5~ i~ an in~erted chnnnel whlch fit~
5 over a p~p sp~t. Th~ pu~p ~p~ut i~ pre~Jented from rotating ~y ~he hood 5~ and 1~ th~ held ~n a pred~te~m~ned ang~e orientAtion.
The rotatlng portlon o~ the chuck 50 include~ a lower hou~lng 60 h~ing B p~ir of ~w~ 62 exten~ing down th~refrom 10 ~he low~r hou~ing rotate~ a~out bea~lnga 61. The iawa ~2 are ~upported on ~r~ tha~ e~ten~ r~dl~lly outw~rd to ~vo~d ~nterference with tha ~poUt. In the s~bodi~ent of ~IGS. 5 and ~, the jaw~ ~2 are ~upport~d on opposing C-~haped ar~
6~. The C-~hap~d ~ 64 ~r~ pivotally conn~cted to th~
15 lower houslng 60~ ~prin~s 66 attache~ to th~ C-~h~ped ar~e 64 urge ths ar~C in a direction ~hlch pull th~ iaw~ 62 apart ~o release a Cap h~ld therebetween. A pair of plunger6 S&
are m~unted ln ~ chamber wi~hin th~ lower hou~ing 60. ~he plungers 68 are reciprocally ~ovable up and down within the 20 ch~her. In th~ down p~sltlon, plunger~ 68 pu~h upon the C-shaped arms 64 to overcom~ the sprinq~ ~6 and forc~ ~he ~aws 62 tog2ther a~aln~t a ~ap. The grlpping power of the ~WB
on the chU~k is ~et ~y the chuck ~ir pr~ure. The ~hu~k air p~e~sure ahould be ~et hlgh eno~gh so that ths cap 25 cannat 61ip in the ohuck. A~ the sa~e ti~, the chuck should not be so tlght a~ to ~istort the shapo of the pump cap. Valving of the chuck air pres~Ur~ control~ a panc~ke cylinder mounted ln the upper hou~ln~ 54. The cyllnder i8 connoct~d ~o as to ~U8u a non-rotatlng 30 cylin~ri~l actuator 75 to ri~q and lower. Tho a~tu~tor 75 ~i~t~ and depr~6se6 an assa~bly including ~e~ring~ 7~ and hub 70. ~he plunger~ ~8 are advanta~eou~ly carried on the hu~ 70. ~hus, t~e chUCk air pre4sure to the pancak~
cyiinder operate~ the lifting ~r lowering o~ the p~ungers 68 35 to open ~r close the jaws 62. In th~ up po~i~ion, plunger~
68 release the C-~haped arms 64 and the ~aw~ 6~ are pull~d apart ~y the spring~ 66.

The ~.u~ ?0 has ~ ~t Gp 72 m~unta~ thereon. Th~ hub ~
ha3 ~ cyllnd~l~al portlon 74 whi~h flts aro~nd ~arlng~ ~fi.
The bearing~ 7 ~ ~eparat~ t~e cy~ind~ l portion ~4 from the non-rot~ting ~yllndric~l ac~uator 75. T~e oyllndrica~
5 actuator 75 is c~nnected t~ the panca~e cyllnd~r which cause~ the actuator 75 to rai~e or lower the appaxatus includir.~ hub 10 and ~earlng~ 76. Wh~n the hu~ 70 ~arrie~
the plung~r~ in t~e down po~tlon, th~ atop 72 f~eely revolv~s Ln th~ oham~r around the non-rotating cyllndrical ~0 ~ctuator 75~ When the hub 70 1~ ted ln~o the ~-lp position, the stop 72 wil~ engago ~nQ Or two orisntati.on stop~ 80 axt~ndlng from the upper housing 54 into tha oha~r. rrhe orientat~n ~top~ ~0 ara loc~ted 1~0~ apart. When the rotst~ng portion o~ the chu~k 1~ orlented wi~h t~e stop 72 1~ Against one or the orian~tion stops 80, th~ jaw~ 62 ~ill ba oriented wlth re6pect ~o the cap 6pout oo that the ~huck ~y be li~ted aw~y from th~ ~on~aln~r without the jaws ~2 hittlng t~e spout.
When the chuck i~ rotated ~ tha~ ~h2 s~op ~2 h~ts 20 againat an orlenta~lon ctop 8~, lt t~ de~ir~le to prevent ~he chuck fro~ bounclng bflak~ T~l~ ~ay be a~co~plis~ed ~y providing a p~wl 82 ~hat act~ aga~n~t a ru~ber friction diRk 84. Th~ p8wl 82 i~ an ar~ ~onneated to ~ pl~ot atop th~
chUck. The d~k ' 5 att~ched a~ ~n outer ring on top o~ the 25 lower hou~ing ~. Th~ di6t~1 end of the ~rm re~t~ ~pon t~e f~ction disk 84 at an angle ~uch th~t durin~ ~crewcapping th~ pawl 8~ glide6 o~er the frlction di6~ 84 without lnterruption. When ~he ~tops hit, a rebound i~ prevented a8 the pawl Ba ja~ against the fricS~on dl~k 84.
3~ Alterna~ively, r~bound may be p~evented ~y frlctlon ~etween th~ l~wer houeing and the belt that i~ rotating th~ houslng.
The operation of the pu~p capper 10 can be viQwed ~eglnning with th~ pick up of th- pu~p c~p. Wi~h the ~pindle ~2 rai~ed, the ent~e chuck i~ ln an elevated 35 po~ition. The r~i6ed c~k i~ brou~ht into the vic~ty o~
the starwheel 42. The ~aw~ 62 are ori~nted at a pre~etermined rota~ion21 angl~ de~ermined by ~he ori ent~tion stops 80 And ~r~ in an open po~itlon, Th~ hub 70 i~ in ~he raised po~ition with lt~ stop 72 agaln~t one o~ ths or~ent~tlon stop~ ~nd the plun~er~ 6B allowlng th~ ~aws 62 to be pulle~ lnto the open po i~lon by the ~prlngs 66. The 5 pump cap on the ~tar wh~l 4Z has besn p~operly orlen~d with the ~pout ~g~in~t an orient~tion pin 4~. Wh~n th~
chuc~. 18 dlrcctly over the cap on th~ ~ar wh~el, th~ hu~ 70 i8 lowered by applic~tlon of ch~ck alr px~s~re to the panca~e cylindQr closlng the ~aw~ ~2 upon the cap. In6tead 10 of alr prs~ure, ~n alternate ambodi~ent c~ have the hub controll~d by a me~nical cam arr~qement. Me~nwhile, ben~ath the cap starwh~el 42, the container st~r wh2~1 22 ha~ bro~h~ A container in~o eng~ nt with a container cla~p 2 a . The pump capper turr~t mov~s the capplng chuck 15 wlth the container d~r~ctly ben~ath i~.
ThQ next ~ctlon to t~ke place on th~ pu~p capper ~
~te~ straightenin~ oo that the capp1ng c~uc~ can lower the cap onto ths ~-ontalner with ~he aseuranc~ that the pu~p ~tem has ~een ~neerted lnto the cont~iner. Referr~ng now to ~I~S
20 ~a and 8b, eac~ o~ck has a pump ste~ guld~ 90 a~ociated therewith along ~he turre~. The pump stem gui~e 90 includ~
~ ~tem lever g2 and a ~t~ guid~ ~gm~nt g~.
Advantageously, the 3t~ g~ide ~egment ~naps int~ the end of the stem l~ver so th~t a ~te~ guide Begmen~ having an ~5 appropria~ely eized ~uide channel w~ich flt~ the pump tube 3te~ o f the cap b~ing procec~ed ~ay be ~n~pp~d thereon. A
~al l detent 95 may b~ uced ~ hold the ~t~m gui~e 6egment 94 ln place on the ste~ levsr 92. The s~em ~uide ~gmen~ ha~ A
V channel 93 which catche~ ~he ~te~ ~hereln. Normally th~
30 ~tem gui~e ~eg~ent 94 is swung by the ~tem lever gz out of the way of th~ cappLng chu~k.
After the c~p ha~ been secured w~thln ths ~aws 62, the ste~ le~er ~2 ~win~s the ~tew gul~e ~gment 94 lnto p~ltion ~o catch the t~p por~on of the pump s~e~ ~ithin it~ channel 93~ At this looatl~n along the turre~, a ~tem stralghteninq plate 96 is encountered. The plat~ g6 provides a ~moot~
~rf~ce in a ci~ular arc tha~ matc~e~ the circular ~ovement - lo -of the turr~t. ~he piate i~ iocated ~o that the p~mp ~tem iL caugh~ in the guide channel 93 between the ~tem guide ~egment ~4 and ~h~ plate 96. A5 the chuc3c 1~ moved by the tunnel along the plate, t:he ~tem quide l~ver 92 ~ lowered 5 ~y ~ean6 o~ an alr cylinder ~. Th~ stem guide ~e~Qnt 94 ~ovee~ down the pw~p sta~ whlle continuous~y holding it between the s~em ~uide ~eg~ent g4 an~ the pla'ce ~6. As the stem ~ide ~R5~ent g~ ie ~lid down along the pl~te, the pump Btem i~ stra~g~tened. As the ;te~ guide ~g~en~ g4 r~ache~
10 the botto~ portis~n or tt~e pump 8tR~a, the ~pindle 52 ~nd the ~ntlre c:huck ls lowered ~o ~8 to ~rop the cap into the c~ntainer whlch iB ~ocated dlrectly belo~r the cap on the pu~np capper turret. Th~ po~ltion of the bo~tom o~ t~e pum-?
t~be stem hAs bRnn reliably po~itioned ~y ~he ~tem lS 6traigh~ner 80 as to drop through tl~e openlng in the container. At a~out ~hi8 position ~d~acent the turret, the st~ traight~ing plA~e g6 end~ ~s jt i~ no lon~er need~d.
The tep Or each stem gulde so ha~i a ~sh~rt 97 ~ttached to a plate ca~. The sha~t g7 rides ~410ng th~ plate cam. At ~he ~o correct point in the cycle, the c~ pu~hes the cam roll outward. T~is pro~ides t~e ~winglng ~otlon whlch ~ove~ ~hQ
st~ guide lev~r 92 away rrom under the chuck once ~he stem guid~ 90 pOfiitiOn5 th~ pump stc~ over the con~alner.
~he ~pindle s2 o~ t~e chuck ~s connecte~ to a roller 25 bearing which ride3 on a ~arrel ~a~. The barrel ca~ is located near the center o~ ~h~ pump capper. ~hi~
eonvent~nal ~8c~ani~ provla~s the ~ertic21 motion o~ ~he chuck. W~th ~he CAp on the container, the cap i8 now ~ea~y to be ~crewed tigh~ly th~reon.
The chuck ia brought in contact with a tor~ue ~eit.
Th~ t~rque belt ic ~ timing belt rotated b~ an slectric ~otor ~hrough a torque clut~h. T~e ~tch i~ dosigned to ~lip at a predeternined applica~ion torque. ~he b~
designe~ ~or ~klng po~itive enga~ement with a ~applng chuck 3~ o~ a pump ~apper. Alterna~ively, the ~orque b~lt may be use~ adjacent a transporter or ~onveyor c~rrying containers w~th ~aps pvised on top ~or ~cr~wing~ In ~his alterna~e -- 2 1 6262~ -embodi~ent thQ ~a~G may eng~ge ~ tor~ h~lt direc~ly En~aging caps ~llrectly is expect~ to work be~t with larqe cap~. ~he c~p~ ~houl,l ~e on ~p of their r~pac~iYe e~ntainer~ ~ t~ey are pa~ed slong ~he torque belt. The 5 ~ontalne~ nre held so a~ ~u pr~v~nt them from rotating.
~he C~pB ~houl~ en~age t~e tor~u8 belt ene at a ti~e with the c~p/~ re~p~ctlve c~ntalner ~orce~ ~a~n~t the belt t~
maintain a ~o~itive engagemen~ between the cap dnd the balt t~roughout ~e screwing step. The oap~ are rel~tively easy ~0 to turn at fir~t. When ~ c~p i6 ~mpletely turnçd o~to the threadc of lts con~alnar, the resi~t~nce lncre~se~ guiekly.
At th~ point where the cnp reGl6t~nae ~x~eed~ the ~sxim~m ~arque pr~ ed by the clut~h, the ~lutch ~eglns to elip.
In the o~bb~lment of FIG. 9, t~ torGue b~lt ~.00 15 contact~ t~ outer 6urf~e of the lower housing 6Q af~er the cap h~s b~en ln~ert~d into itB cont~ln~. The torque belt 100 i~ looped tightly aroun~ thrse whee 1 ~ The torque be~t O 16 pr~f~r~ly a tlming l:f~lt s~rith rldge~ ~nd groo~re~
whlch mate with ~idge~ and grooves around ~ach of the thre 20 whQels. The ~;huck contact~ ~e bel~ be~ n two of the wheel~. The ~orqu~ ~e~t 15 held tightly aga~nst the chuck to ebtain ~ ~081tive engagement. Th~ outor ~;urface of the chuck ' 8 lower housing ~0 i~ rQ~Aqh~ r~ to sub~tantiall~ ~void ~lippa~e. The torqu~ ~elt loo o~ ~Q pr~sently pref~rred ~5 e~bodiment i~ mad~ o~ n~-oprene. 5uoh ~elts a~e commenly ~vd~ fro~n, for exar~ple, Vo~ sQltlng and Speclalty Co.
rrO~ whom the 360X~. 7S 18 pre~ently preferred. Slippin~
~etween the torque bQlt and the chuc)c ~E~ unde~ redt pArtlculsrly wh'le l*.e cep i~ be~ng ~orqu~d. The po~lt~ve 3~ eng~gement c~n be Dlalntalned }~y mai~.tainlng t~e ten~ion l~n the torque be~c 100. I~ 1s done ~n the e~bodi~ent shown by an alr epriny cylinder 102 ac~ing a~linst on~ o~ the wheels. A~ ~hown, one o~ the whee~ attac:hed to a lever 104 wh.ich i~ atta~hed ln turn t~ thR ai.r 3pring 1~2. The 35 a~r spring lo~ is maint~ed at a de~;ired pre~ure so as to hol~ the bel~ to t~e de~ired tensiun a~ the chucX come~; in c~ontact ~ritn tll~ belt. T~le entlre rotat i ~n of the c~p to tight~n it on~o the cont~lner i~ pero~ed a~ the chuck iB
moved by the pu~ap cspp~r t~rret ad~ent the torque bq~lt ~ 00 ~ A pre~ently pr~ferred a~r ~pr~ng i~ t~e Bi~ba 04-1.5 DXP ~D-584~6-A-1. 5) .
The dri~ ~or tbe torque ~elt 1~ ~ torque clutch. Tho torqu~ clutc~ 1~6 i3 attached fo~ drivlng on~ of t~e wh~el~
withln the torque bolt. In the pre~ntly preferr~d ~mbodlment~ tho torque olut~h 106 13 a magn~tic clutch. The clutch will ~lip ~t a pr~determined appl~cation torque.
lo Thu~ once the ~ap ha~ ~een tightly ~cY_u~'. onto the cont~iner, the torqus bQlt will not apply ~ore th~n the predeter~Lned ~axi3u~ application torqu~. Th~ maximu~
~orqu~ of ~he ~agnetic clutch can be e~ly ad~u~ted by ~ttlng t~o voltage to the magnet$c clutch, The clutch ~06 5 15 driven ~y an al~c~ric motor 1~8.
ThQ ~rewing operatl~n c~n bQ ~cceler~ed by controlling th~ drive to apply a hlgher torqu~ at the beginnin~ of t~e ~arewing operatlon and rod~cing to the application torque before the screw ~ap 1B co~pl~t~ly 20 ti~htened. Th~, ths ti~e it takes to ~cmpletely scr~w the cap onto the ccntainer c~ ~e re~uced and ~till provide ~
maximum applic~tion torque when the cap ha6 been co~pl~tely tiyhtened. Moreover~ t~ hi~her initial torque may be use~ul in overco~lng resi~tance to s~rewing . In particular J
25 when the cap thr~ad~ and the cont~ lnex throad~ are made of ~he ga~e e~otb materi~l a large a~unt of ~ur~ace friction may n.oed to bR overcome ~uring 6c:~ewcapping.
By provi~ing a ~axlmu~ appllcatlon torque, ths apparatus avold~ unneces~dr~ly stre~sln~ t~e cap and 30 po~sibly br~aking it ~r the cont~iner. By using the torque ~elt ~o tlghten the ~ap~ for e~ch of the chu~k~
po~lble to have a ~ingl~ torque li~iting ~ev~ ~8 on the machine that handl~ torquing all of the cap~ the applicatlon of torque need~ to b~ adju~ted be~ause a 3s dlfferent cap and container ls ~eing handled ~y the ma~in the adjustment i~ ~a~e e~ier by ha~ing only the &inyle tor~ue ~elt.

~ typical magnetlc torque clut~h is ~hown in FI~. 10.
A presently preferred ~agne~c torque ~lutch 1~ the Model C-35 made and ~old by Pla~d Industrle~, Inc. o~ Lake Pl~c~d, ~e~- York. An inp~t housing 110 is rotat~d by a bel~
5 connected to the electrlc ~otor 1~8. ~e output shaft 112 i~ coupled to t~e output hou6ing 110 by magnetlc flux. An elect~o~gn~t~c coil 114 in thu outer hous~ng pro~ldes the magne~c r~ux. Magnetlc part~cle~ 1~6 fll~ a g~p between the output ~a~t ~n~ t~e hou~ing. By setting the voltage on 10 the elec~romagnet 11~, th~ degrse of c~upling between the input and output of the clutch is deter~ln~d thereby determlning the m~ximum appllcatlo~ torque throuqh th~
clu~ch. ThU~, in ~cordance with the ln~ntion, it is a ~i~ple ~att~r to ~ake an ad~uet~nt to th~ appllcation 15 torgue. MorQover, one torque belt ~ts the predeter~in~d application torque for a plurallty of ~apping h~ad~.
When a ca~ has been torqued to the ~ull applioatlon r~ue, the pump ~pping proces6 15 complete. Th6 chuck A~ r pr~ssure 1~ controlled to lif~ the hub 70, thereby opening 2G the jaw6 ~2 and rel~a3ing the oapped container.
Now, the chuck if reoriented ~or 6a~ely lif~ng the ~aw6 wlthout hitting the pump ~pou~ and for proper orientatlon to pick up the next cap. For this p~rpo~e, an orient~tion belt 120 ic provld~d a~tQr th~ torque belt.
25 ~etween the torque bel~ and the orlentation belt 120, the hub 70 is lifted fxom it~ l~west posltlon to lte rai~ed po~tion ~ub~ect to ~he orientation ~top- 80. The or~entat~on ~elt 120 rotates the chuc~ untll th~ stop 72 hit6 a~ orientation stop 80. At thi~ pbint, ~he pawl ~2 30 pre~ents the chuck rrom rebcunding o~f thc s~op. The orientation belt 12a thus returnc th~ chua~ to lts pr~per posltion for safely li~tlng pa~t the spout and for picklng up a next pu~p cap at thQ pump cap inlet 6tar whe~l 42. A
~eries of ~ensors may ~e provided along the ~achine to maXe 35 ~u~e that the chuck ~s in the correct orientaticn ~efore it rea~he~ the pu~p inlet ~tar wheel. If it i6 not in the correct orientation, t~e machine will ~hut down. ~nstead of havin~ the orientation bel~ 12~ dr~ve the chuck and having the pawl brake the chuck upon hltting the st~p, ~h~
orientation ~elt c~n be pla~e~ around ~ fr~ction cl~tch.
The orlentation bolt itself cau~es tha chuc~ to rot~te ~ it i~ tran~ported Py th~ turret. The chuck rotnte~ untll the ~top 7Z hitQ nn orient~tlon stop ~0. The belt itaelf can be uqed to prevent the chuc~ fro~ re~ounding o~f the stop. The frict~on clu~oh ~lip5 when the atop8 ~ntact. Another alterna~$VQ ~8 to per~orm thQ orienting oporation with the 10 torquQ ~elt 100 it~elf. Thla may ~low down the overall operation and wo~l~ thus be mo6t a~op~iate for thoso 8y~t~m8 which hsv~ le~s s~ringent throughput r~qu~rement~.
An a~tern~tlve ~rrAnqement ~or reori~nt1ng the chuck ~hall be describ~d with r~pect to the alt~rn~e e~bodiment illu~tratod in ~IG. ll. The left hal~ of FIG. 11 ~how~ the ~aw~ in th~ clo3ed pogi~ion whlle the ~ght ha~ of th~
figu~e ~how~ the ~aw8 in th~ op~n p~ltion. wlth the non-rotating cyllndrica~ actuator 75 in th~ down positlon, the ~aws 64 and the hub 7~ ~ay freely rotate. When the hub 70 20 i5 retracted ~nto tho up po~ition, two hardene~ rollers 130 (only on~ ~hown) spaoed 180 apart contaot the top sur~ace of the hub '8 cylindric~l portion 7~ . E~ch rc~ ar ~ 30 1~ a roller whlcll 1~ mountQd for rot~lt~on ~bout an axle 132. The axle 132 extends in a r~d~al dlrection. The top 6urîAc~ of 25 the hub 70 ha~ two v-groovos 1~4 180C apart for capt~r~ng the roller6 130. FIG. 12 provlde~ A sid~ view of a roller in a v-groove 134. For thi~ em2:~od1ment, the orientatlon belt 120 nQ~d not be driven. R~h~r the orlentation belt 12~ m~y be norDI~lly ~ixed ln po~ition by a man~lally 30 ad~ust~ble friction c:~utch. I~iti~lly, the belt 120 ca~laes the low~r housln~ 60 to rotate a~ the turret mov~B the chuck dr~gging th~ lower housing along the be~t. As th~ lower houslng rotate~, the rollers 130 roll over the upper ~urface of the hub 70. Wh~n the rollers 130 encounter the v-groo~es 3~ 134, the hub 70 ret~act~ up further ~topplng the rotation of the hub 70 and the lower housing 60. The non-rotating lower housing exerts enough fric~ional force on the orientation - 2~ 62623 be~t 120 to cause lt~ clutc~ to 61~p. The orient~tion belt 120 i~ thus reoriqnted preventing ~xces~lve wear in any glven spot. Wlth the roll~r~ 130 in the v-grooves 134, the ~aw~ 64 ~re properly oriontod for lift~ng o~ the chuck 5 without h~tting the pump ~pout.
once t~e chuck i~ prop~rly orien~ed, tho capped contalner c~n ~e re~oved from the pump capper. T~e capping chuck i~ ted up ~ove the contalner to t~e helght needed ~or plc~lng of~ the n~xt cap. A conventional cam ~eahAnl~m 10 lifta th~ spin~le o~ the ahuck ~t th~ appropr~ate ti~o. The clamps 28 release the con~a~ne~r ~ few degree~ ahead of an ima~ln~ry l~n~ drawn between t~e ~lddlc o~ the center column and the c~nt~r o~ the ~iP~~rge ~tar wheel 26. A cont~iner 1Q re~ove~ ~rom the C1H~P ~8 to the d~scharge star wheel 26.
15 Llk~ the lnt~ke stAr wheel, the, di~charge star whe~l rotate~
countercloc~w~e. The container~ are carried ~etwe~n the di~ch~rge ~tar wheel and the center g~ldec aaro~ the transfer plate~ and onto the di6charg~ convoy~r, ~he di~char~e conv~ye~ carrles the containers aw~y from the 20 capping area.
Of aour~e, it 6hould b~ understoo~ that vaxlous ahange~
~nd modl~ica~on~ to th~ pre~erred e~bodimsnt desoribed above wlll b~ apparen~ to thos~ ~kille~ in the art. For exampl~, thQ magnotic Clutch &an be replaced by an electr~c 25 clutch, a friction torque clutch, a 6ervo~0tor or any other mechAniem that provide~ a predetermlned ~axlmum torque.
Moreover, ~he torque belt of the present lnventi~n ~ay be used, without ch~cks, to dir~ctly apply torqUe to a cap.
contain~rs wlth cape poised r~r ~cr~wc~pplng ~ay be 30 tran~ported ~long the torque belt by a ~urret, a convey~r belt or any other ~uitable mo~e~en~ ~ean~. Guide ~ails, belts cr other m~chanis~s x~y ~e used to m~lntain po~ltlve engagemen~ be~ween the cap~ and the torque ~elt during ~crewing, These and other ~hanges can be ~a~e witho~t 35 departing fr~ the ~pirit And 6cope o~ the ~nvention ~nd without dimini~hing it~ attendant ~dvantage6. It i~
therefore intended that such change~ and modificat~ons he cover~d by ~he ~ollowing claims.

Claims (12)

1. A screwcapping apparatus comprising:
means for transporting a plurality of threaded objects, each along with a cap poised for screwing onto the threaded object;
a torque belt oriented with respect to said transporting means so that the caps positively engage said torque belt one at a time; and a clutch for driving said torque belt to tighten each of the caps to its respective threaded object at a torque determined by said clutch.

2. The screwcapping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clutch is a magnetic clutch.

3. The screwcapping apparatus of claim 2 wherein the torque determined by said clutch is set by delivering a known current to said clutch.

4. The screwcapping apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a belt tensioner, mounted to push against said torque belt, for maintaining positive engagement between said torque belt and the caps as they are brought into contact with said torque belt.

5. A screwcapping apparatus comprising:
a plurality of capping heads, each having a chuck with means for grasping a cap poised upon a threaded object;
a torque belt;
a clutch for driving said torque belt; and means for bringing the chuck of each of said capping heads into positive engagement with said torque belt one at a time to tighten the respective cap on its respective threaded object to a torque determined by said clutch.

6. The screwcapping apparatus of claim 5 wherein said clutch is a magnetic clutch.

7. The screwcapping apparatus of claim 6 wherein the torque determined by said clutch is set by delivering a known current to said clutch.

8. A screwcapping apparatus comprising:
a rotating turret;
a plurality of capping heads mounted on said turret, each capping head having a chuck drum having means for grasping a cap;
means for feeding caps to said plurality of capping heads;
means for bringing threaded objects for receiving the caps beneath said plurality of capping heads one at a time so that said turret moves each capping head in conjunction with movement of a threaded object maintained beneath said capping head;
a torque belt, said torque belt being positioned with respect to said turret such that the chuck drum of each of said capping heads is brought by said rotating turret into positive engagement with said torque belt one at a time; and a magnetic clutch for driving said torque belt so as to tighten each cap onto its respective threaded object to a torque determined by said clutch.

9. A pump placer comprising:
means for grasping a cap having a stem depending down therefrom;
means for conveying said grasping means along a path;
a plate having a surface following the path of said grasping means;
a lever arm having a guide segment at a distal end, the guide segment having a guide channel;
means for moving said lever arm so as to bring the guide segment into contact against said plate with the stem caught within the guide channel betweensaid plate and the guide segment; and means for moving said lever arm vertically down to guide the stem into alignment over an opening in a container.

10. The pump placer of claim 9 wherein said means for grasping comprises a chuck and said means for conveying comprises a turret.

11. The pump placer of claim 10 wherein the surface of said plate follows a circular arc corresponding to the travel of said turret.

12. The pump placer of claim 9 wherein said means for moving said lever arm vertically down comprises an air cylinder.