GB555452A - Improvements in or relating to machines for capping bottles, cans or like containers - Google Patents

Abstract

555,452. Capping containers. CARTNER, J., and MOORE, H. G. Feb. 18, 1942, No. 2186. [Class 125 (ii)] The capping head of a machine for fixing a cap having a continuous flange or depending tongue on to a bottle or like container or for fixing the lower edge of a locking band on the cap comprises a sleeve having a downwardly inclined conical surface with a contractible ring member located on the conical surface which is directed inwards of the sleeve and toggle links or other mechanism for lowering the sleeve on to the container, the toggle or other mechanism producing, in the final stage of the capping, a slow movement with increasing pressure on a top pressure member freely located in the sleeve over the contractible ring member while the sleeve becomes disconnected from the toggle &c. and suspended from a fixed part of the machine and the ring member is progressively constricted on the cap &c. by the top pressure member. As shown the sleeve 20 is slidably mounted on a block 18 having a boss 17 loosely fitting a collar 13 fixed to a hollow shaft 14 within which is disposed a rod 23 carrying a pin 21 which supports the sleeve 20 and lies in a slot 19 in the block 18, the top pressure member 25, freely movable in the sleeve, bears on a helical spring 27 supported on the inwardly and downwardly directed internal conical face 28 of the sleeve. The upper end of the rod 23 carries an abutment plate 24 adjustably connected thereto and normally resting on and supported by, the top of the hollow shaft and spaced from the top of the bearing bracket 16 of the shaft 14 which is connected by pins 12 to the lower link 11 of a toggle, the upper links 10 thereof being carried by a pin 7 journalled in ears 6 on the bracket 16 and rocked by a bell-crank lever 8 connected to the link 10 by a pin 8a. The lever 8 is actuated from a treadle by the rod 8b to move the capping head and at the start of a capping operation there is a clearance A between the collar 13 and block 18; when the abutment plate 24 reacting on the end of the shaft 14 reaches the top of the bracket 16 the rod 23 is arrested and the collar 13 moves to engage the block 18 and move it downwards within the sleeve 20 at a relatively slow rate as the toggles straighten to the dead-centre position. The block 18 bears on the member 25 and moves it down to engage the top of the cap and the peripheral face of the disc pushes down the spring 27 to contract it and swage inwardly the flange of the cap, a clearance B between the head 22 of the rod and the block 18 allowing this movement. Stops 31 on the bracket 16 prevent the toggles passing the dead-centre position; the base 1 of the machine may be provided with adjustable stops to locate the container with a resilient pad of rubber therefor; automatic feeding devices may be employed to bring the containers in succession to the base and to remove them therefrom after a capping operation; the base may comprise a spring-mounted platform to accommodate containers of varying heights; and the helical spring may be embedded in or replaced by a rubber ring.