US962030A - Feeding mechanism for bottle-capping machines. - Google Patents

Description

G. KIRKBGAARD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1908.

96%,G8Q Patented June 21,1910. 57 LL44 .22 if l 15 g E 29 [Z 1 43 Mme/00% Z] Vl UQ wtor :trocluced, by hand, in proper position.

GEORG KIRKE GAA RD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO IMPERIAL STOPPER. COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 'June21, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRe' KIRKEGAARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in, the borough of Brooklyn and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Bottle-.

been common to employ a reciprocating capping head into which the bottle caps are in- This operationof supplying the caps to the capping mechanism, however, is slow, laborious and consequently expensive, and the primary object of my invention is to provide means for automatically collecting the caps from a mass in a hopper or, other receptacle and continuously delivering them in proper position to the capping mechanism of the capping machine.

In carrying out my invention I employ, in

connection with a hopper into which the bottle caps are loosely supplied, a rotary cap-collecting and delivering Wheel, provided with suitable means, such as permanent magnctsi, for attracting and elevating the caps one by one from the mass and delivering them into-a chute which leads to the capping head of the capping machine. I employ a motor for actuating this wheel in WhlCh the power for operation is automatically stored up during each reciprocating movement of they capping-head, and I also provide means for regul'atingthe extent of operation of this .motor for controlling the de reeof rotation of the cap-collecting and deFivering wheel during each operation of the capgnng machine. I also provide novel means or insuring the proper positioning of the caps on, the periphery of the cap-collect ing and delivering wheel and means for reventing the 'ammin of two or more caps etween said w eel an the walls of the cas ing in which said wheel rotates.

The details of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of the specification: Figure -1 isa sectional elevation of a bottle capping machine showing my improved feeding mechanism for the caps applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the cap-collecting and delivering wheel and the casing in which it is mounted; Fig. e is a. detail View of the gravity motor, and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view, showing in elevation the positioning gate for the caps.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

My improvements have been shown in connection with a cappin machine comprising a hollow standard 1 aving an adjustable table 2 on one side thereof on which the bottles to be capped are laced. Above the table 2 is a capping hea 3 shown as connected with a cylinder 4 which reciprocates inan opening in an adjustable bracket 5 on the standard 1. This cylinder is connected to an arm 6 on the upper end of a vertically reciprocating rod 7 extending down through the hollow stem 1. In the operation of this machine the bottle caps are delivered to the capping head 3, and, during the reciprocation of said head, said'caps'are applied to the. bottles which are successively placed upon vthe table 2. .r v

My improved cap-feeding -mechanism comprises a circular casing 8 located above and secured to the capping mechanism so as to be vertically reciprocated therewith. The

front of the casing 8 is preferably closed by I a sheet 9 of transparent material, such as glass, and communicating with said casing is a hopper 10 into which the metallic bottle caps are indiscriminately placed. Extendcular wall ofthe casing 8, above the wheel 13, is a strip of metal or other suitable material whose inner surface is separated I slightly from the periphery of the wheel 13 forming a circular passage 16. Also secured to the inner surface. of the cylindrical wall of the casing 8, but below the'wheel 13, is

a strip 17 whose inner surface, throughout a portion of its length, has been shown substantially in contact with the periphery of the wheel 13. One end of the strip 17 is slightly separated from the adjacent por- 1 tion of the strip .15 and the space between the two forms a continuation of the passage 16. From the passage 16 leads a chute 18 which communicates at its lower end with the cappin head 3. The upper surface of the strip 1 is cut away as shown at 19 to provide space within the casing 8 for the reception of the caps which flow from, the

hopper 10. Above this cutaway portion 19' is located a flexible strip 20 of sheet metal or other suitable material which is secured termed a cap-positioning gate 24. This gate has a slot and pinconnection25 with the strip 15 so that it is radially movable with respect to the wheel 13, the same being normally held down in engagement with the periphery of said wheel by a spring 26. Said gate has an opening27in its lower end which corresponds in shape with the cross section of the cap employed, that is to say, the opening is wider at the top than it is I .at the bottom. and is provided with inclined side walls. Said gate24is also formed with projections 28.on eachside which fit down into the grooves 22 in the wheel 13 andare I adapted-to be engaged by the lugs 23 in said grooves.

The wheel 13 has a rotary movement imparted to it during the intervals between the capping operations of the capping machine, that is, when the capping mechanism .3, 4, is being-elevated. This movement is effected by a gravity motor 29 consisting essentially of a pinion 30 on the shaft 12, a rack 31 meshing-with said pinion, and a weight 32 on said rack. The pinion. 30, whileloose on the shaft 12, hasa pawl and ratchet connection 33 with a disk 34 fast on the shaft 12, so that while said pinion 30 ma be turned in one direction independcut y of said shaft, when moved in the other direction it turns said shaft with it. For controlling 'the speedof movement of the wheel 13 when the motor 29 is thrown into 32 is then elevated of? operation, an escapement I 35 is employed which cooperates with a gear 36, in turn connected through the gears 37 and 38 with a" pinion 39 on the shaft 12. The weight 32- 'is located directly above the bracket 5 and is adapted to engage the same during the downward movement of the capping mechanism, and the stem of the rack 31 to which the weight 32 is connected extends up through the casing 40, in which the gears described are housed, and carries an adjustable stop 41. This stop may be adjusted at any point along the stem of the rack '31 so as to limit the movement in one direction of the casing 40 and the rack 31 with respect to each other. In this way the distance which the Wheel 13 is caused to rotate during each operation of the motor 29 may be accurately controlled in accordance with the conditions under which the machineis operating; the

aforesaid parts hence constituting time element means for controlling the. gravity motor.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the operation of my improved feeding mechanism will be understood. Briefly stated, however, it is as follows: Viththehopper 10 filled with metallic caps of the kind described, some of which are resting upon the flexible bottom 20 of the casing 8,. and with the parts in the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the capping head 3 is moved downwardly to apply a capto the bottle resting on the table 2. As the casing 8 and the other parts of my improved" mechanism are connected with the capping mechanism, they will also be moved downwardly during the capping operation. At

such time the weight 32 comes in contact.

with the bracket 5 and its movement is arrested. The continued downward movement of the casing 40 causes the upper end of the latter to pass down to a point below'the sto 41, the pinion 30 freely rotating on the sha t 12 through the engagement 0 the rack 31 ceding therewith. Upon the upward movement of the capping mechanism, a corresponding movement of the feeding mechanism attached thereto is brou ht about. The. weight g the bracket 5, but as the stop 41 and the casing 40 have been separated from each other, the weight 32 is free to descend by gravity in opposition to the movement of the rest of the apparatus. In so doing the wheel 13 is caused to rotate,

through the action of the rack 31 upon the pinion 3t) and the ratchet connection between said pinion and the disk 34 on the shaft 12. This rotation of the wheel 13 con-- tinues until thestop 41 again comes in contact with the top of 'thecasing 40. The

wheel 13 moves in the direction of the arrow, and in th1 s movement the exposed portion of the periphery of'said wheel passes through. the mass of caps on the bottom 20. Oneonmore of these caps are attracted to the periphery of said wheel by the magnets 1 l4 and are lifted from the mass and carried against the periphery of the wheel 13- vIf they assume this position naturally on the.

periphery of the wheel, they are free to passthrough the opening 27 in the positioning gate 24, as sald opening 27 corresponds in shape with the cross section of one of the caps lying against the wheel 13 in the position described. If the cap is not exactly centrally disposed on the periphery of the wheel 13, it will be given itsproper position thereon by the engagement of its side edges with the inclined side walls vof the opening 27. If the cap has been attracted to the periphery of the wheel 13 in the opposite position, that is, with its flange adjacent the periphery of the wheel, said cap cannot pass through the opening 27 and it will either be inverted by the gate 24 or entirely stripped from the wheel 13 by the engagement of the gate therewith. This construction and arrangement of parts absolutely insures the proper positioning of the caps on the wheel 13 prior to their entrance to the passage 16. It may sometimes happen that two or more caps may be attracted by one of the ma ets 14,and held against the periphery o the wheel 13 i inclined position, one upon the other, and t ereby cause a-jamming between the wheel 13 and the gate 24. To overcomethis difficulty, the lugs 23 have been provided which are located just behind the magnets 14 so that in the event of jamming betweenthe wheel 13 and the gate 24, said gate will .be forced outwardly and separated from the wheel 13 by the engagement of said lugs with the projections 28 on said gate. As this separation k takes placeafter the magnets, have passed said gate, the 'ca s which are; thus released are beyond t e attractive; power of the magnets by which they were formerly held and are free to'drop back onto the bottom 20. i The said bottom 20 has been made flexible or yielding in order to prevent a jamming of the caps in the bottom of the casing 8 sh that the magnets 24 would not be free to act upon them.

Having described my invention,I claim 2-- 1. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feeding mechanism therefor, and independently operating means, antomatically thrown into operation, for driving said feeding mechanism.

2. The combination with a bottle capping for, independently operating means auto matically thrown 1nto operatlon for driving said feeding mechanism, and time element means for controlling said operating means.

3. The combination with a bottle cappingmachine, of cap feeding mechanism therefor,

I machine, of a cap feeding mechanism therean independently operating motor for driv- 4 ing said feeding mechanism, and means for throwing said motor into operation when the capping operation has been completed.

4. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feeding mechanism therefor, an independently operating motor for driving said feeding mechanism, and means for automatically storing up energy in said motor during the capping operation of said machine and for throwing said motor into operation when the capping operation has been completed.

5. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feeding -mechanism therefor, a motor for drivingsaid feeding mechanism, means for intermittently said motor into operation, and time element means for regulating the duration or extent of each intermittent operation of said motor.

6. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feeding mechanism carrie by a movable part-of said machine, and an' independently operating motor for driving throwing from said fixed part, to throw the motor into action, after the capping operation has been completed.

I 7. The combination with a bottle capping machine, of cap feeding mechanism carried by a movable part of said machine, and a gravity motor for driving said feeding mech- 'anlsm, the said motor comprising a pinion and a weighted rack meshing therewith, the said rack being adapted to engage a fixed part of the machine when the feeding mechanism is moved in one direction, for storin up power in said motor, and being free from engagement with said fixed part, for

-with, the said rack being adapted to engage a fixed; part of the machlne when the feeding mechamsm is moved in one direction, for storin up power in said motor and being freed from en agement with said fixed part, for starting t e motor,- when the feeding mechanism is moved in the opposite direcstarting the motor, when the feeding mechtion, and an adjustable stop for limiting the downward movement of said rack.

9. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprisinga rotary cap collecting and delivering wheel, and means for imparting intermittently, a predetermined move ment thereto.

10. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping.

machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and deliver ng whee and means having a recess therein for insuring the proper posltioning of the caps on said wheel, the. sides of said recess engagin ,.when necessary, the

' sides of improperly p aced caps.

said wheel, as and for'the purpose set forth. 14. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping 11. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprisin a rotary cap collecting anddelivering whee a chute into which the caps are delivered, and means, movable outwardly from said wheel, for insuring the proper positioning of the caps on said wheel prior to their delivery to said chute.

12. Feeding mechanism for bottlecapping machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and delivering wheel, magnetic means for attracting the caps and retaining them on the periphery of said wheel, and a cap ositioning gate cooperating with said w eel,

the said gate havlng an opening therein corresponding with the cross sectional shape of machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and delivering wheel, magnetic means forattracting the caps and retaining them on the periphery of said wheel, a yieldingly mounted cap positioning gate cooperating with said Wheel,-'-;the}sa1d gate having an opening therein corresponding with the cross-sectional shape of one of said caps, and

lugs on said wheel adapted to engage said gate for intermittently separating the same from said wheel, as and for the purposeset forth.

15. Feeding mechanism for bottlecapping machines, comprisin a rotary cap collecting and delivering whee a plurality of magnets carried by said wheel, a casing! in which said wheel is mounted and into which the caps are supplied, a passage being formed be tween said casing and said wheel through which the caps are conveyed by said-wheel, a chute leading from said passage, and means 'for stripping the caps from said wheel prior to their entrance into said chute.

16. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and delivering whee a plural ty of magnets carried by said wheel, a casing in which'said wheel is mounted and into which the caps are supplied, a passage being formed be-' tween said casing and said wheel through which the caps are conveyed'by said wheel, a cap positioning gate at the entrance to said passage, and a chute leading from said passage. 7 I

17. Feeding mechanism for bottle capp ng machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and delivering wheel, a plurality of radlally disposed magnets carried by said wheel, a casing in which said wheel'is mounted and into which the caps are supplied, a passage being formed between said casing and said wheel through which the caps are conveyed by said wheel, a cap positioninggate at the entrance to said passage, the said gate cooperating with said wheel and having an opening therein corresponding with the cross-sectional shape'of one of said caps, a chute leading from said passage and means for stripping the caps from said Wheelprior to their entrance to said chute.

' 18. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprising a rotary cap collecting and delivering wheel having side grooves in the periphery-thereof, a plurality of radially disposed magnets carried by said wheel, a

casing "nil-which the wheel is mounted and into which'the caps are supplied, a passage being formed between said casing and said wheel through which the )caps are-conveyed by said Wheel, a yieldii'fgly mounted cap positioning' gate at the entrance to said passage, the said gate cooperating with said wheel, having an opening therein corresponding with the cross-sectional shape of one of said caps and having projections thereon which fit down into said grooves,

'and lugs in said grooves adapted to engage said projections for intermittently separating said gate from said wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

19. Feeding mechanism for bottle capping machines, comprisin .a rotary cap collecting and delivering whee a plurality of radially disposed magnets carried by said wheel, a casing in which said wheel is mounted, a space or receptacle being formed between the lower part of said Wheel and said easing into which the caps are indiscriminately sup-- plied, and 'a yielding bottom for said space 'or receptacle, as and for the purpose set forth. I

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORG KIBKEGAARD.

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