Cap gripper

• US 10,017,368 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Wine Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Wine Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Mckuin, Earl, Santos, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Hemant M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Palmer, Lucas
• Application Number:
  US14/553,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20160145086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 53468, 533814, 53281, 53109, 53287, 53310, 53313, 53319, 53329, 53342, 53345, 53346, 53359, 294 90
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/28 by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/90 Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 1/005 Feeding stoppers in general B65G

Abstract

A cap gripper is described herein with a groove for receiving a projecting portion of a cap. A positively biased member may create a narrowing in the groove to secure the projecting portion of the cap within the groove. The positively biased member may be positively biased by a spring-loaded screw that is inserted into a screw hole of the cap gripper. When the cap is inserted into the cap gripper, the positively biased member may be partially depressed within the screw hole to allow the projecting portion of the cap to be inserted into the groove. Likewise, when the cap is removed from the cap gripper, the positively biased member may be partially depressed within the screw hole to allow the projecting portion of the cap to be removed from the groove.

Claims

1. A cap gripper, comprising:

a groove configured to receive a radially projecting portion of a cap, wherein the groove comprises a first surface on which the radially projecting portion rests while the cap is secured in the cap gripper and wherein an entirety of the first surface on which the radially projecting portion rests is disposed within a first plane; and

a movement impeding member including a positively biased member arranged to secure the radially projecting portion of the cap within the groove, wherein the positively biased member creates a narrowing in the groove and is displaceable within the groove between a first position and a second position in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.

2. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the radially projecting portion is a flange-shaped portion.

3. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the radially projecting portion has a circular-shaped outer edge.

4. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the radially projecting portion has a square-shaped outer edge.

5. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the positively biased member comprises a ball bearing.

6. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the movement impeding member further comprises a spring-loaded screw, and wherein the spring-loaded screw is threaded into a screw hole of the cap gripper and imparts a positive bias onto the positively biased member.

7. The cap gripper of claim 6, wherein the movement impeding member further comprises a nut, wherein the nut is threaded onto an end of the spring-loaded screw so as to fix a position of the spring-loaded screw with respect to the screw hole of the cap gripper.

8. The cap gripper of claim 6, wherein the screw hole penetrates into the groove of the cap gripper.

9. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises at least one surface, and wherein the positively biased member projects from the at least one surface of the groove.

10. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the groove further comprises a second surface which faces the first surface, and wherein the positively biased member projects from the second surface.

11. The cap gripper of claim 10, wherein the positively biased member is partially depressible into the second surface, allowing the radially projecting portion of the cap to be inserted into the groove.

12. The cap gripper of claim 10, wherein the positively biased member is partially depressible into the second surface, allowing the radially projecting portion of the cap to be removed from the groove.

13. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the groove traces a two-dimensional path, and wherein the positively biased member creates a narrowing in a width of the groove at one point along the two-dimensional path.

14. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the groove traces a u-shaped path, and wherein the positively biased member creates a narrowing in a width of the groove at one point along the u-shaped path.

15. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the positively biased member is located in the first position when the radially projecting portion is partially inserted into the groove, and is located in the second position when the radially projecting portion is either fully inserted into the groove or not inserted in the groove.

16. The cap gripper of claim 1, wherein the positively biased member contacts the radially projecting portion when the radially projecting portion is partially inserted into the groove.

17. A cap gripper, comprising:

a groove configured to receive a radially projecting portion of a cap; and

a movement impeding member including;

a positively biased member arranged to secure the radially projecting portion of the cap within the groove of the cap gripper;

a spring-loaded screw threaded into a screw hole of the cap gripper, wherein the spring-loaded screw imparts a positive bias onto the positively biased member; and

a nut threaded onto an end of the spring-loaded screw so as to fix a position of the spring-loaded screw with respect to the screw hole of the cap gripper,

wherein the groove comprises;

(i) a first surface on which the radially projecting portion rests while the radially projecting portion is secured within the groove of the cap gripper, wherein an entirety of the first surface on which the radially projecting portion rests is disposed within a first plane, and

(ii) a second surface which faces the first surface, wherein the positively biased member projects from the second surface, and

wherein the positively biased member creates a narrowing in the groove and is displaceable within the groove between a first position and a second position in a direction perpendicular to the first plane.