Apparatus and method for pre-capping containers

• US 6,115,992 A
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New England Machinery, Inc.
• Original Assignee: New England Machinery, Inc.
• Inventors: Bankuty, Geza E., Perazzo, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Application Number:
  US09/159,152
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 53/306, 53/308, 53/317, 53/331.5
• US Class Current: 53/308
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/28 by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20

Abstract

An improved pre-capping machine and method for pre-capping containers that are advanced along a predetermined path by standard conveyor systems. The present invention pretightens caps, plugs, overcaps and other fitments to ensure that they are squarely placed on the containers, without damage to the containers, in preparation for their final closure. The apparatus comprises a spindle assembly, having a longitudinal spindle axis, that is connected to a frame for movement of the spindle assembly along the spindle axis. The spindle assembly comprises a cap gripper that is configured to hold a cap centered over the open end of a container so that axes through the cap, the open end of the container and the spindle assembly generally coincide. To place a cap on the container, the spindle is released for free movement along the spindle axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for placement of caps on openings of containers, comprising:

a frame;

a conveyor positioned adjacent said frame for advancing a container along a predetermined path, the container having an opening and a generally vertical axis extending through the center of said opening;

a spindle assembly having a longitudinal axis, said spindle assembly being connected to said frame for movement along said longitudinal axis of said spindle assembly between a first position and a second position;

a container guide mechanism connected to said frame for guiding a container so that the container axis generally coincides with said axis of said spindle assembly;

a cap delivery system for delivering a cap to said spindle assembly such that when a cap is delivered the vertical axis of the cap generally coincides with said spindle assembly axis;

a cap gripper attached to said spindle assembly such that when said cap gripper grips a cap delivered by said cap delivery system the vertical axes of the cap, the container and said spindle assembly are generally coincident when said spindle assembly overlies the container; and

means for controlling a portion of the movement of said spindle assembly along said longitudinal axis of said spindle assembly by holding said spindle assembly in said first position until a cap is axially aligned under said cap gripper by said cap delivery system, then moving said spindle to a third position, intermediate said first and second positions, where a cap is gripped by said cap gripper, and then releasing said spindle to fall freely until the cap engages the open end of a container before said spindle reaches said second position.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein;

said apparatus further comprises a column being mounted to said frame, said column having a longitudinal axis, and said spindle assembly moving about said axis of said column;

said means for controlling a portion of the movement of said spindle assembly comprises, an upwardly facing spindle cam attached to said frame having a first and a second upwardly facing cam surface; and

a cam follower connected to said spindle assembly and engaging said upwardly facing cam surface as said spindle assembly moves about said column, such that when said cam follower engages said first cam surface said spindle assembly is maintained in said first position, when said cam follower engages said second cam surface said spindle assembly is in said third position and when said cam follower is no longer supported by said second cam surface said spindle assembly is free to fall downwardly toward said second position until a cap, when held by said cap gripper, engages a container before said spindle assembly reaches said second position.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said spindle assembly when released by disengagement of said cam follower from said spindle cam being free to move upwardly.

4. A method for pre-capping containers, comprising the steps of:

advancing a container along a predetermined path, the container having an opening and a generally vertical axis extending through the center of said opening;

guiding said container under a spindle assembly so that said axis passing through said opening in said container generally coincides with a longitudinal axis extending through said spindle assembly;

delivering a cap adjacent to said spindle assembly such that a vertical axis passing through said cap generally coincides with said spindle assembly axis;

moving said spindle assembly along said spindle assembly longitudinal axis until a cap gripper attached thereto engages said cap;

gripping said cap with said cap gripper so that the vertical axes of said cap, said container and said spindle assembly are generally coincident; and

releasing said spindle to fall freely until said cap engages the open end of said container.

5. A method for pre-capping containers as in claim 4 comprising the further step of:

rotating said spindle assembly and the cap held by said cap gripper so that when a threaded cap engages said opening in said container and said container opening is threaded, said threads of said cap engage the threads of said container.