APPARATUS FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND LABELING CONTAINERS
First Claim
1. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled, means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, sealing means at the labeling station for sealing closures during rotation of the containers, and feed means for feeding labels having adhesive surfaces into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact, simplified machine is provided for sealing and labeling containers such as bottles. The machine is designed particularly for hospitals and the like requiring a relatively small number of one-dose bottles to provide liquid medicine for patients. Stations are provided for filling the bottles and placing caps thereon. The machine also has a station where the bottles are rotated to simultaneously crimp the caps thereon and apply labels thereto. A printing device is located on the machine which applies the proper indicia to the labels prior to being affixed to the bottles, and a unique system for feeding the labels to the bottles.
157 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled, means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, sealing means at the labeling station for sealing closures during rotation of the containers, and feed means for feeding labels having adhesive surfaces into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers.
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2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by means for imprinting indicia on the labels prior to feeding them into contact with the containers.
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3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by said sealing means at the labeling station comprising a crimping wheel having a cylindrical portion of substantially uniform diameter with an annular flange extending outwardly below the cylindrical portion, said lower flange being substantially aligned with the lower edge of a lip of the container when in a sealing position, said flange being effective to force inwardly a lower annular edge of the closure with said cylindrical portion engaging an upper portion of the closure above the lower edge thereof and above the lower edge of the lip, and means including resilient means supporting said crimping wheel to enable said wheel to yield in a downward direction when moving the lower edge of the closure inwardly.
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4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized by said supporting means further comprising an arm, shaft means on said arm for rotatably carrying said crimping wheel and for supporting said resilient means below said wheel.
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5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized by drive means including an electromagnetic clutch for moving said arm in a direction to move said crimping wheel into contact with the closure, and means for changing the electrical power supplied to said electromagnetic clutch to change the force said crimping wheel applies against the closure.
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6. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled, means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, the labels having adhesive surfaces and being sequentially carried by an elongate flexible member, and feed means for feeding the labels into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers, said feed means including means for moving the elongate flexible member in a sharply divergent path from the labels to separate the flexible member from the labels and to enable the labels to continue in a direction toward the containers.
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7. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized further by a light-sensitive cell being located on one side of the path of the labels, a light source directed toward said cell on the other side of the labels, and means controlled by the light-sensitive cell for stopping the feeding means after a label passes between said cell and said light source.
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8. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by said feed means comprising a pair of rolls, at least one of which is driven, for receiving and pulling said elongate flexible member after the membeR is separated from the labels.
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9. Apparatus for labeling a container to indicate the contents thereof, said apparatus comprising means for supporting the container, a tape carrying a label, means for feeding the tape longitudinally toward the container-supporting means, a pressure plate past which the label and tape are moved with the tape positioned between the label and said pressure plate, a printing head mounted for movement in a lineal path between a position in engagement with the label on the tape at said pressure plate and a remote position, means for moving said printing head from the remote position to the engagement position when the tape is stationary to imprint predetermined indicia on the label, an inking plate, means movably supporting said inking plate in the path of said printing head, and means for moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing head prior to said printing head being moved toward said pressure plate.
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10. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, means for rotatably mounting said container-supporting means for rotatably supporting the bottom of the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, and means for feeding a label into engagement with the container when the container is rotated.
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11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized by means for imprinting indicia on the label prior to feeding the label toward the container.
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12. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, a multiplicity of pressure-sensitive labels carried on a tape, pressure-applying means adjacent the container-supporting means and adapted to be in pressure contact with the container, means for feeding the tape longitudinally toward the pressure-applying means and the container-supporting means, and means for abruptly changing direction of the tape away from the labels to cause the labels and tape to separate and the labels to continue in a path toward said pressure-applying means to move between the pressure-applying means and the container when on said supporting means.
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13. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by a pressure plate past which said labels and tape are moved with the tape positioned between said labels and said pressure plate, a printing head mounted for movement in a lineal path, means for moving said printing head in the lineal path between a position in engagement with the labels on said tape at said pressure plate and a remote position, an inking plate, means pivotally supporting said inking plate in the lineal path of said printing head, and means for pivotally moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing head prior to said printing head being moved toward said pressure plate.
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14. Apparatus according to claim 13 characterized by a support for said cap-engaging head, means for moving said support up and down to move said head up and down, a gear rAck associated with said support and movable therewith, said pivot means for said inking plate including a shaft, and said means for pivotally moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing plate comprises a pinion gear on said shaft and engaged with said gear rack.
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15. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by said means for feeding the tape comprises a pair of rolls, at least one of which is driven, said rolls being positioned to receive the tape therebetween after the tape moves past the direction-changing means.
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16. Apparatus according to claim 15 characterized by at least one of said rolls having a plurality of O-rings mounted thereon in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the associated roll.
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17. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized further by a light-sensitive cell located on one side of the path of movement of the labels, means on the other side of the label path for directing a beam of light toward said cell, and means responsive to said cell for stopping movement of the tape-feeding means after a label moves beyond the beam of light.
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18. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, said arm-moving means including an electromagnetic clutch, and means for changing the electrical power supplied to said electromagnetic clutch to change the amount of pressure the crimping wheel applies against the cap.
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19. Apparatus according to claim 18 characterized further by a support for said cap-engaging head, and means for moving said support up and down to move said head up and down relative to the cap.
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20. Apparatus for crimping a cap on a bottle comprising means for supporting the bottle, a cap-engaging head for engaging the cap on the bottle when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, said crimping wheel having an annular outwardly extending flange to move an edge of the cap inwardly under a lip of the bottle and having a cylindrical shoulder of smaller diameter than the flange to engage an intermediate portion of the side of the cap and achieve a sharp bend between the side of the cap and the edge, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, spring means urging the arm toward the remote position, and means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the crimping wheel into engagement therewith.
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21. Apparatus according to claim 20 characterized by said means for rotating said cap-engaging head and said means for moving said arm include common drive means.
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22. Apparatus according to claim 20 characterized by means for rotatably mounting said bottle-supporting means for rotatably supporting the bottom of the bottle.
Specification