Spin welding apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for frictionally joining a first member to a second member comprising:
- a rotatable spindle member having a head portion adapted to releasably engage said first member;
means to support said second member and prevent said second member from rotating;
means to rotatably support said spindle member;
means to move said spindle member toward and away from said second member;
biasing means operatively associated with said means to move said spindle member toward and away from said second member to effect a predetermined tension on said spindle member prior to and during contact of said first member on said second member and limiting the stroke of travel of said spindle member as said first member is moved toward said second member; and
means to rotate said spindle member so as to effect frictional engagement and securing of said first member on said second member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spin or friction welding apparatus which can accurately locate a container such as a semirigid plastic bottle with respect to an overcap which is to be frictionally welded to the bottle by means of a rotatable spindle member. In order to assure that the overcap is secured to the bottle neck when employing high production machinery utilizing a rotating spindle mechanism for frictionally engaging the cap on a stationary bottle, many tolerances must be compensated for in the dimensions of the cap, the size of the neck on the container, as well as the positioning of the cap in relation to the container. To compensate for these variables, a biasing means is provided in conjunction with the rotatable spindle member so as to effect a predetermined tension on the cap member when it engages the stationary container neck and is spun into frictional engagement with it. Further, means are provided in the form of oppositely disposed jaw members with surfaces to surround the neck of the container and position it precisely in axial alignment with the rotatable member. To further assure proper alignment during frictional engagement of the cap and the container neck, the support means for the container is moved out of position so that the only vertical support of the bottle is by means of these jaw members which contact the lower surface of the rib on the container neck. This support contact prevents vertical deformation and horizontal deflection of the bottle and rotation of the bottle is prevented by means of lateral wall members.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for frictionally joining a first member to a second member comprising:
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a rotatable spindle member having a head portion adapted to releasably engage said first member; means to support said second member and prevent said second member from rotating; means to rotatably support said spindle member; means to move said spindle member toward and away from said second member; biasing means operatively associated with said means to move said spindle member toward and away from said second member to effect a predetermined tension on said spindle member prior to and during contact of said first member on said second member and limiting the stroke of travel of said spindle member as said first member is moved toward said second member; and means to rotate said spindle member so as to effect frictional engagement and securing of said first member on said second member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for frictionally joining a cap member to the neck of a container comprising:
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a rotatable spindle member having a head portion adapted to releasably engage said cap member; means to separately support said container and prevent said container from rotating; means to rotatably support said spindle member; means to move said spindle member toward and away from said container; biasing means operatively associated with said means to move said spindle member toward and away from said container to effect a predetermined tension on said spindle member prior to and during contact of said cap member on said neck of said container and limiting the stroke of travel of said spindle member as said cap member is moved toward said container; and means to rotate said spindle member so as to effect frictional engagement and securing of said cap member on said neck. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for frictionally joining a cap member to the neck of a container comprising:
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a rotatable spindle member having a head portion adapted to releasably engage said cap member; means to support said container and prevent said container from rotating; means to rotatably support said spindle member; means to move said spindle member toward and away from said container; biasing means operatively associated with said means to move said spindle member toward and away from said container to effect a predetermined tension on said spindle member prior to and during contact of said cap member on said container neck and limiting the stroke of travel of said spindle member as said cap member is moved toward said container neck; a pair of oppositely disposed jaw members each having a surface constructed and arranged to substantially surround said neck of said container and said container neck includes a rib member supported by said jaw members; and means to rotate said spindle member so as to effect frictional engagement and securing of said cap member on said neck. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a spin welding apparatus for frictionally securing thermoplastic caps to thermoplastic neck surfaces of containers, said apparatus comprising:
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a rotatable support means to support a multiplicity of oppositely disposed rotatable spindle members having head portions adapted to engage said caps; means to position and support said containers and prevent said containers from rotating; means to move said spindle members toward and away from said containers; and means to rotate said spindle members, the improvement comprising; biasing means operatively associated with each said means to move said spindle members toward and away from said containers to effect a predetermined tension on said spindle members and said caps on said neck of said containers, said biasing means effecting a predetermined tension on said spindle members prior to and during contact of said caps on said neck surfaces and limiting the stroke of travel of said spindle member as said cap member is moved toward said container so as to effect frictional engagement and uniform securing of said cap on said neck surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification