VIAL CAPPING APPARATUS

• US 3,852,941 A
• Filed: 08/20/1973
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stokes-Merrill Corporation (DT Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Charles Frederick Bross
• Inventors: Bross, Charles Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): McGehee, Travis S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Culver, Horace M.
• Application Number:
  US05/389,906
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 53/317,331.5,306,308,329,287,367,350,365
• US Class Current: 53/317
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/2033 comprising carousel co-rotating capping heads
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/2073 comprising torque limiting means torque limiters in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/14; couplings or clutches per se F16D

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically capping a vial with a child-safe cap on a mass production basis is disclosed. Means are provided at each of a plurality of movable work stations: to hold a filled vial in a cam-actuated vial holder, to grasp and tightly hold a cap with a cam-actuated cap holder, and to lower and rotate the cap holder in order to assemble the cap to the vial under pressure, after which the cap is released by the cap holder, and the vial is released by the vial holder.

Claims

1. A capping machine for assembling a cap to a vial with rotation and pressure, said capping machine being adapted for operative association with:

a. first means for delivering caps to a first location;

b. second means for delivering filled vials to a second location; and

c. third means for receiving capped vials at a third location;

said capping maching comprising;

d. a rotary worktable mounted for rotation about an upright axis;

e. at least one capping device mounted on said worktable adjacent its periphery for rotation therewith;

f. fourth means for rotating said worktable whereby said capping device moves therewith in an arcuate path through said first, second, and third locations;

said capping device including;

g. a vial holder for receiving a vial from said second means, for tightly holding said vial between said second and third locations, and for delivering said vial to said third means;

h. a cap holder comprising a pair of fingers for holding a cap by the rim thereof, a mechanism for moving said fingers toward one another to closed position for holding a cap during movement of said capping device between said first and third locations and for moving said fingers apart to release said cap from said fingers at said third location;

i. an elongated, upright spindle mounted for upward and downward movement in axial direction;

j. a barrel mounted on said spindle for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said spindle and being movable upwardly and downwardly with said spindle, said barrel supporting said cap holder at the lower end thereof;

k. a first cam follower connected to said spindle;

l. a first cam arranged in camming relation to said first cam follower, said first cam having a camming surface contoured for moving said cap holder with said spindle and said barrel downwardly at said first location whereby said cap holder descends on a cap at said first location, the camming surface of said first cam being contoured to effect upward movement of said cap holder with said spindle between said first and second locations, and said camming surface of said first cam being contoured to effect downward movement of said cap holder with said spindle between said second and third locations whereby said cap holder is biased downwardly on said vial during assembly of said cap to said vial;

m. a turning ring formed about said spindle on the surface of said barrel;

n. A turning block engageable with said turning ring between said second and third locations for rotating said cap by said cap holder relative to said vial during assembly of said cap to said vial;

o. an aligning ring on said barrel formed about the axis of said spindle and including a pair of flat spots therein, said flat spots being disposed inwardly of adjacent portions of said aligning ring, and p. a second turning block engageable with said aligning ring between said third location and said first location for rotating said cap holder until said fingers are spaced apart in the direction of movement between said third location and said first location.

2. A capping machine according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes a toggle joint linkage between said spindle and said fingers and including locking means responsive to force in one vertical direction for locking said fingers, said locking means being responsive to force opposite in direction to said one vertical direction for unlocking said fingers.

3. A capping machine according to claim 2 further including table means at said first location supporting a cap and applying a downward force to said toggle joint as said fingers descend on said cap whereby said fingers are locked in closed position;

and wherein said camming surface of said first cam provides means for moving said fingers upwardly with said spindle between said second and third locations for unlocking said fingers.

4. A capping machine according to claim 1 wherein said vial holder comprises a stationary claw, a movable thumb member operatively associated with said claw for holding a vial, a second cam follower connected to said thumb member, a second cam arranged in camming relation to said second cam follower, said second cam having a camming surface with a first portion as means for holding said thumb member and said claw apart between said third location and said second location, said camming surface having a second position as means for moving said thumb member toward said claw at said second location into closed position of said vial holder, said camming surface having a third portion as means for maintaining said vial holder in closed position between said second and third locations, and said camming surface having a fourth portion as means for moving said thumb member away from said claw at said third location.

5. A capping machine according to claim 1 adapted for assembling a cap to a vial, wherein said vial is provided at its mouth with a plurality of generally J-shaped grooves and said cap is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending lugs engageable with said grooves respectively, said cam, said cam follower, said turning ring and said turning block being positioned and arranged for moving said cap relative to said vial between said second and third locationS to effect turning motion of said cap until each lug enters its associated groove and thereafter moves downwardly and horizontally and upwardly to an assembled position of said cap and said vial.

6. A capping machine according to claim 1 further including an overload clutch between said spindle and said cap holder for preventing excessive torque being applied to said cap during assembly to said vial.