US1510913A - Bottle-topping means - Google Patents

Description

F. C. AREY BOTTLE TOPPING MEANS Filed July 18 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l F. C AREY BOTTLE TOPPING MEANS Filed July 18. 19 21 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct 7 9 F. C. AREY BOTTLE TOPPING MEANS Filed July 18 1921 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'nll F. C. AREY BOTTLE TOPPING MEANS Filed July 18. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheeti r merll ofi' Fed Cid? Patented Qct. 7, i924.

LSMMB FRED C. ARE Y, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO HORLICKS MALTED COM- PANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPjORATION.

BOTTLE-TOPPING MEANS.

Application filed July 18, 1921. Serial No. 485,578.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED C. ABBY, a citizen of the United States. residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Topping Means, of which'the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to the sealing of bottles or jars and relates particularly to the. means for afiixing a label or seal to the upper edge of the bottle neck.

It is customary to put up certain materials, as for example malted milk. in large bottles or jars which are closed by a cover or rap having a threaded or similar connection with the bottle, and it is desirable to have some means in addition to the cover for sealing the jar, this being accomplished with my invention by securing a label or seal of paper or other suitable material to the upper edge of the bottle neck.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide animproved means for sealing a bottle or 'jar;'to apply a label or seal of paper or similar material to the upper edge of the bottle neck so that it will adhere securely thereto; to saith: the seal to the mouth of the jar or bottle by a gum or adhesive; to withdraw the seal applying device so as to avoid displacement of the seal; and in gen: eral, to provide-an improved machine of simple form. which is capable of securely affixing a seal of paper or similar material so as to close the mouth of a jar or bottle.

On the drawings- Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine embodying my improvements, portions thereof being broken away and shown in section so as to disclose detailsof construction;

Fig. 2, a side view of the machine shown in Fig. ,1;

Fig. 3. a top view of the sealing head with the parts which support same shown in section;

Fig. 4. a vertical sectional view of the sealing head on the line 4-4-.of Fig. 3. showing the head in the initial position of applyingaseal toajar;

Fig. 5. a similar view showing the head in the final position of applying a seal to a 1 Fig. 6. a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a bottom view of a seal applying head with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8', an enlarged sectional view on the carries the various parts of the sealing device. The machine illustrated is of a duplex or double acting type comprising two heads indicated as a whole at 2, which reciprocate alternately toward a pair of bottle supports 3, which are carried upon the op- 'posite ends of a cross arm or bracket 4,

which has an intermediate portion telescoped on the post 1 and secured at the desired elevation by set screws 5. v

Each of the bottle supports 3 comprises a cup-shaped housing 6,'whioh is secured on the upper end of a sleeve 7, the latter having a reduced extremity 8 which fits in an aperture provided therefor at the outer end of the cross arm 4 so as to hold the bottle support in proper position with reference to the sealing head. The housing 6 is telescoped by an inverted cup-shaped casing 9 which has a plate 10 secured to the upper end by a threaded connection as shown, or

in any other convenient manner. and the plate 10 has a band 11 extending upwardly around the edge to hold a block 12 of wood upon the upper face of the plate 10. A spring 13 is interposed between the closed ends of the housing 6 and easing respectively which are held against undue separation by a bolt 14 which has the headed end engaged with and countersunk in the upper face of the-end wall of the cup-shaped casing' 9 and the stem inserted down through the spring and sleeve 7 and provided with a pair of lock nuts 15 on the lower end which may be adjusted to regulate the compression of the spring 13. l

The bottles or jars 16' which this machine is designed to seal are large ones such as are commonly employed to contain malted milk and'the wooden blocks 12 are large enough to accoodate one of these bottles. To facilitate placing the bottles in proper position 'on'the supports 3, there is a cross arm or disc 17 on the post 1 which projects a short distance over each of the supports 3 and is provided with an arcuate plate 18 at each end having a facing 19 of leather or similar. material which fits the exterior of the bottle and is adapted tohave the latter engaged thereagainst preparatory to the performance of the sealing operation.

Secured to the upper end of the post 1 is a large, bracket 20 which has a pair of horizontally spaced bearings 21 in which a drive shaft 22 is mounted with. a pulley 23 fixed thereon between the bearings21 and conheated by the belt 24 to any suitable source of power. This bracket 20 at opposite sides of the post 1 and directly above the bottle supports 3, has vertically apertured hubs 25 each of which supports a yoke shaped frame 26, which has an arcuate flange portion 22' at the inner end en aged over the corresponding bearing mem er 21 of the main bracket 20 and secured thereto by one or more cap screws 28.

A separate countershaift 29 is mounted at the upper end of each yoke-shaped frame 26 in spaced bearings 30., and each of these shafts hasa spur ear 31 at the inner end meshing with a pinlon 32 on the main shaft 22 whereby the countershafts are operated at a lower rate of speed than the main shaft.

Each oke frame 26 is formed at the bot tom wit a pair of spaced flanges 33, which extend between and connect the arms of the yoke and these flanges are connected together at a point substantially between their ends by an integral transverse web 3 1: which is recessed at opposite sides to form vertical dove-tailed guide- ways 35 and 36, the

latter of which is disposed directly above the hub 25. For connect-ingeach frame 26' with the hub of the bracket 20 a combined ke and bushing is employed having a dovetailed head 37 engaging in the lower end of the dove-tailed guide-Way 36 and a sleeve portion 38 fittin in the opening 39 in the hub 25 so as to %ock the frame 26 and hub 25 together. A plunger shaft 40 extends down through the sleeve 38 and also through a bearing 41 in the end of a cross arm 42 which is adj ustably secured on the post 1 by set screws 43 and this shafthas the sealing head 2 mounted on the lower end thereof below the cross arm 42. The upper end of the plunger shaft 10 is threaded as at 44 and engaged in a threaded socket in the lower end of a dove-tailed block 15., which fits in the dove-tailed guide-way 36..ot' the bracket 26 and this block is provided at one side with a pin 46 carrying an anti friction roller 47. which engages the periphery of a cam 48 on the counter-shaft 29. This cam serves to force the" plunger shaft d0 downwardly to effect the sealing operation and has the roller 47 held thereagainst' by the elevating spring 49 which surrounds the shaft 40 between the hub 25 and the bearing 11 and has the lower end bearing against the latter and the upper end bearing against a collar 50, which is secured on the shaft 4:0 by the pin 51.

Secured to the lower end of the shaft 510 by the threaded connection or in any suitable manner is a shank 52 having four radially disposed sets of pivot lugs 53 and each pair of lugs has a pivot pin 54: extending therebetween and supporting a 'finger or lever 55, each of which above the pivot 54 is engaged by a thrust spring 56 seated in a socket 57 in the shank 52 so as'to nor mallythrow the upper ends ofthe fingers outwardly and the lower ends inwardly. The lower end of the shank 52 is formed with a reduced externally threaded extension 58 upon which a flat ring 59 is engaged so as to come'tlush with the lower'face or the extension 58 and form therewith a smooth face Of a little larger diameter than the upper'end of the bottle or jar to which the seal is to be applied. Each of the fingers 55 has an arcuate plate 61 on the lower end which extends substantially 90 around the ring 59 and has the. lower face substantiaily in the same plane as the lower face of the disc'59 when the lower ends of the fingers 55 are in the innermost position. For securingthep-lates 61 onto the gers 55 each plate has a notch 62 in the upper face midway between the ends into which the lower end of the finger 55 fits and there is a cap screw 63 extending through the plate 61 and threaded into the lower end of the finger 55. A rubber cushioning element 6% is secured to the under face of each plate 61 and extends inwardly beyond the plate, as shown particularly in Figure 4, so as to project under the ring 59 when the fingers 55 are in the normal position and thus provide a cushion between the disc 59 and the upper edge of the bottle neck for pressing the edges of the seal 65 into sealing engagement therewith when the sealing head is forceddownwardly. These rubber se ments 64; may be secured to the plate 61 in any convenient manner as for example, by a number of cap screws 66, which have the head countersunk in therubber segments and the threaded stems engaged in threaided apertul'es invthe plates 61.

The fingers 55 are designed to be rocked on their pivots 54 after the seal is pressed onto the bottleor jar so as to move the rubber segments 64 outwardly beyond the edges of the'seal to prevent displacement of the seal when the head recedes and for effecting this result, a collar or stripper ring 67 is slidably arranged on the Shank 52 and the fingers to swing outwardly under the influence of the springs 56 and the lower ends accordlngly to swinginwardly and position the lnner'edges of the rubber segments 64 under the periphery of the ring 59.

When, however, the ring 67 is moved downwardly over the ends of the fingers 55 the beveled face 68 forces the upper, ends of the latter inwardly thereby swinging the lower ends with the plates 61 and rubber segments 64 carried thereby outwardly to projecting laterally therefrom and carrying an anti-friction roller 75, which engages against the periphery of the cam 76 on the countershaft 29. To confine the movement of the links 72 to an up and down direction the block 73 is bifurcated at a. point above the pin 74 so as to straddle the shaft 29 and there is a cross plate 77, which extends between and is secured to the upper extremities of the said parts above the shaft 29.

In the operation of this device the bottle is placed on the support 3 with a seal in place thereon and thesealing head 2 projected downwardly with the parts maintained in the position shown in Figure 4, so that the inner edges of the rubber segments 64 extend under the ring 59 and press the edges of the seal against the mouth of the bottle. To effect the depression of the head and maintain the parts as shown in Fig. 4, it is necessary for the shank 52 with the fingers 55 thereon and the ring 67 to move downwardly in unison and 'to acomplish'this movement the cams 48 and 76 each have a corresponding rise 78 and 79 respectively leading up to corresponding arcuate faces 80- and 81 respectively, which act simultaneously'upon the rollers 47 and to depress the shaft 40 and the links 72, thereby moving the entire sealing head 2 downwardly as a unit and the radius of these faces and 81 is such that the head 2 is caused to force the bottle 16 downwardly a very short distance so as to compress the spring 13 and afford a yielding pressure for clamping the edges of the seal 65 against the mouth of the bottle. The cam faces 80 and 81 are made somewhat long sons to hold the seal 65 under pressure a sufficient length of time to allow the adhesive to set, after which the pressure on the bottle is released sufficiently to relieve the compression of the spring 13 and permit elevation of the bottle support to or substantially to the normal position, this being ef-- fected bya decrease in the radius of the cam 48 at 82 which continues to the point ,83 where the cam is cut away to a short radius as shown at 84, which permits the spring 49 to elevate the shaft 40 and head 52 thereon. At the time that'the pressure on the bottle is released by the decrease on the radius of the cam at 82 the ring 67 is forced downwardly so as to engage the upper ends of the fingers 55 and force the lower ends of the latter-radially and thus withdraw the rubber segments 64 outwardly over the edges of theseal 65 to the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to avoid displacement of the seal when the sealing head 2 is elevated'. The head 2 is not elevated sufficiently during the time that the cam portion 82 engages the roller 47 to withdraw the rubber segments or cushioning elements 64 from the seal 35, but these cushioning elements 64 remain in contact with the seal so that they have a rubbing contact with the seal, particularly the edge portions thereof, as they are withdrawn radially over the seal by the depression of the ring 67. For operating the ring 67 to withdraw the segments 64, the cam 7 6 is formed at 85 with an abrupt rise or projection, which forces the roller 75 and parts to which it is connected downwardly while the parts controlled by the cam 48 remain inactive andat a point substantially in the same mdial plane with the final extremity of theeam face 82, the face of the cam 76 recedes inwardly as at 87 to a face 88 of a radius corresponding to the face 84 of the cam 48, which permits the springs 70 to withdraw the ring67 from the upper ends of the fingers 55 and return the fingers to the position shown in Fig. 4 and at the same time co-operates with the cam 48 and spring 49 to return the head 2 to the elevated position to permit removal of the sealed bottle and insertion of another bottle, whichis to be sealed. i

The seals employed may be of paper or any other suitable material and are preferably gummed on the entire undersurface although they may, if desired, be provided merely with a ring of adhesive material on the under face around the edge of suitable width to extend over the upper edge of the bottle mouth. The upper edge of the bottle neck is preferably moistened and the seal laid on the wet surface before the bottle is placed on the support 3, although the seal itself may be moistened instead of the bottle, if desired, or the adhesive applied to the seal just before the sealing operation so that it is in condition to cause the seal to adhere to the mouth of the bottle when the sealing operation takes lace.

While I have shown and described myinvention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing it'rom the principles of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is d 1. In a bottle sealing machine, a bottlesupport, a sectional head for pressing a gummed paper seal or-the like upon the mouth of a bottle on said support, means for eli'ectingthe pressure-applying operatlon of the head and means for withdrawing the head sections over and in rubbing contact with the edge portions of the seal.

2. In a bottle sealing machine, a. bottle support, a head having laterally and rela-- tively movable sections forming a pressure face adapted to press a gummed paper seal able seetions forming a pressure face adapt ed to clamp a gummed' paper seal or the like against the edge of the mouth of a bottle on the support. means for relatively shifting said support and said head to apply and then partially relieve the pressure on the seal and means for withdrawing the sections of said head over and in rubbing contact with the edge portions of the seal as the pressure is relieved.

4C. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a bottle support, a pressure applying member movable relatively to said support in the direction of the axis of a bottle thereon to press a seal against the bottle moutl na cushioning element interposed between the ressure applying face of said member an the bottle mouth during the pressure stroke and means for laterally withdrawing said element while in engagement with the seal.

5. In a device of the class described. the combination with a bottle support. a head relatively movable to and from the mouth of a bottle on the support in the direction of the axis of the bottle to press a seal upon the bottle mouth. radially movablesections of yielding material positioned in front of the pressure face of said head during the said support, levers pivoted on said head, a

edge of the mouth of a bottle on the support, 0

means for eliecting the pressure applying operation of the head with said sections in their innermost positions and means for withdrawing said sections outwardly while in engagement with the seal.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a yieldable bottle support, a pressure applying member adapted to engage the upper edge of the neck of a bottle on thesupport and depress the latter so as to clamp a seal between the pressure applying memberand the upper edge of the bottle neck, means for relaxing the pressure applying member so as to permit the support to recede to normal position, segmentary cushioning means on said pressure applying member, and means for withdrawing said segmentary cushioning means radially from the top of the bottle as the pressure is relaxed.

9. In a device for applying a seal to the mouth of a bottle, the combination of a bottle support, means for applying pressure to the upper edge of .thebottle neck comprising a pressure face composed of radially movable segments, means for projecting said pressure applying means with the segments in the innermost position and subsequently withdrawing same radially while engaged with the upper edge of the bottle neck.

' 10. In a device for applying a seal to the mouth of a bottle. the combination of a bottle holder, a head having a pressure face composed of segments, pivoted levers supporting till ill)

the segments to permit swinging movement thereof, a member engaging said levers for moving same radially. a pair of cams co-opcrating to project the head and said-member simultaneously toward a bottle on the holder and maintaining the segments in the innermost position. one of said cams being adapt ed to operate said member thereafter so as to'withdraw the segments radially from the top of the bottle.

iao

-11. In a device for applying a seal to the mouth of a bottle. the combination of a yieldable bottle holder. :1 head having a plurality of oscillable members thereon carrying segments forming a pressure face. means for oscillating the levers so as to move the segments radially, a pair of cams operable ing the pressure on the bottle so as to permit to simultaneously actuate the head and'said return of the bottle holder to the normal 30- means and thereby maintain the segments in sition and maintain a diminished pressure on 10 the innermost position and project same the bottle, and means on the other cam op- 5 against the upper edge of the neck of the erable simultaneously to withdraw the segbottle on the support and depress the bottle ments laterally from the mouth of the bottle. holder, means on one of the cams for relax- FRED C. AREY.

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