GB601622A - Means for removing screwed stoppers from bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

601,622. Unscrewing screw stoppers. MURRAY, W. Aug. 28, 1945, No. 22064. [Class 83 (iii)] Means for unscrewing screwed stoppers and for removing them from bottles, wherein a rotary device such as a rubber pad 8 is adapted to descend to engage the stopper and drive it with an unscrewing motion, and a number of grippers or jaws is provided, descending with said device to engage the stopper laterally as the device approaches the stopper and to lift the stopper from the bottle, are characterised in that a plunger or feeler 3 extending through and protruding from the pad 8 is displaced axially relative thereto by engagement with the stopper, the relative movement causing the grippers to engage the stopper head. Upon the rising of the device the stopper is lifted from the bottle, and stop means 13 are provided to arrest the rising movement of the feeler 3 before the pad 8 comes to rest, the consequent relative movement between the feeler 3 and . pad 8 releasing the grippers and leaving the feeler protruding from the pad. The grippers may, as shown in Fig. 1, constitute spring blades 11 carried by bell crank levers 9 and adapted to pass below the head of the stopper, alternatively they may be arranged to grip the edge. The shaft 1 carrying the unscrewing device is belt-driven by a pulley 17, Fig. 4, and is raised and lowered by means of a pedal 21. As the shaft 1 rises after the unscrewing operation, the upper end of a rod 2 carrying the feeler 3 engages a stop 13 causing a spring 14 to disengage a groove 15, and blades 11 to release the stopper which drops into an inclined shoot 26, Fig. 4, the upper end of which is moved beneath the unscrewing device as the latter rises. Alternatively, the unscrewing device may be movable laterally so as to bring the stopper over a fixed hopper or shoot before releasing it. The unscrewing device may be applied to suspended machines for operating on bottles in cases moving on a conveyer.