AU726121B2 - Aparatus and method for positioning a cap inside a container - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING A CAP INSIDE A CONTAINER Field of Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling a drinking container, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for coffee and beverage preparation.

Prior Art In prior art application PCT/IT94/00172, a hygienic cap is manually positioned inside a cup or similar container. The cap is pushed down so that it adheres perfectly to line the inside of the cup. The cup has a hole in the bottom so that all the air can flow out when the cap is pressed inside, thus ensuring perfect adherence and optimal lining. The lining hygienically isolates the cup by preventing direct contact between the cup and the substance contained in the cup and the user's lips. The lining, however, is awkward and not completely hygienic, for instance, because the lining touches the supporting surface and so protection becomes less effective.

The above prior art is not admitted as common general knowledge. The prior art is given merely as background information, and the present invention is not limited to solving the abovementioned problem because it is believed that the 20 present invention provides a completely different function compared to the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvement over *eoo and/or an alternative to the prior art.

Summary of Invention According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus operatively adapted to insert an open-ended cap into a container, the apparatus including: a carrying device adapted to hold the cap in an orientation where the openend of the cap faces away from the upwards direction; a container-supporting means for supporting the container generally below the carrying device; an ejection mechanism for ejecting the cap from the carrying device to enable the cap, in use, to drop into the container; and a reversing device arranged and adapted to reverse the orientation of the cap as the cap drops such that the cap is positioned in the container with the open-end facing upwards.

The reversing mechanism may include a crescent-shaped portion with the concave side facing downwards.

The crescent-shaped portion may protrude laterally up to a central axis that runs through the carrying device.

Preferably, the carrying device holds the cap in an orientation where the open-end of the cap faces downwards.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of inserting an open-ended cap into a container, the method including the steps of: holding a cap in a carrying device in an orientation where the open-end of the cap faces away from the upwards direction; supporting the container on a container-supporting means generally below the carrying device; ejecting the cap from the carrying device to enable the cap, in use, to drop 20 into the container; and reversing the orientation of the cap as the cap drops such that the cap is positioned in the container with the open-end facing upwards.

*ei* The reversing mechanism may include a crescent-shaped portion with the concave side facing downwards, and the method may include the step of rotating the cap on the crescent-shaped portion as the cap drops towards the container.

Drawinqs In order that the present invention might be more fully understood, an embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an apparatus operatively adapted to insert an open-ended cap into a drinking container; and Figure 2 shows a block diagram, specifying a station 16, a micro-switch a vacuum sensor 22, a micro-compressor 13 and the connections with each other.

Embodiments Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus which is adapted to insert an open-ended cap into a drinking container in the form of a cup 19. After the cap is inserted into the cup, the cap provides hygienic protection.

Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section of the apparatus which includes the following parts: a fixed internal cylinder 2, a movable external cylinder 1 that surrounds the internal fixed cylinder 2, a stack of caps 3 inside the fixed cylinder 2, a slightly cone-shaped or tapered end 4 of the internal cylinder 2, the cap's rim one of the possible slots 6, one or more tabs 8 that work in the slots (only one tab is visible in Figure the top 9 of the external cylinder 1, the springs 10 that cause the external cylinder 1 to return to its original position, the pressure release :"**valve 11, the compressed air inlet pipe 12, the micro-compressor 13, the container-support base 14 on which the cup 19 is placed, the micro-switch 15, the control station 16, the reversing mechanism in the form of projection 17, the cap 18 when it is being reversed, the cup 19 in such a position to be lined with the cap 20 3, 18, the hole 20 in the cup, the hole or aperture 21 in the base 14, the vacuum sensor 22, the push button 23 to start the machine, the connection to the feeding circuit 24, and a hypothetical line7 indicating the vertical axis of the apparatus where the axis runs through the centre of the stack of caps.

""In Figure 1, the apparatus is provided with a container-supporting means, in 25 the form of supporting base 14, for supporting the container generally below.

The cap 3 has a rim 5 which ensures that the cap can cover the rim of the cup 19.

The apparatus in Figure 1 has a carrying device for carrying a cap, or a supply of caps 3, in an orientation where the open-end of each cap 3 faces away from the upwards direction. In the embodiment, the caps face downwards. The cap or caps are carried, facing downwards, in the fixed internal cylinder 2 which A as a downwardly-facing opening that is slightly restricted as compared to the rest of the same cylinder. In the embodiment, the slight restriction of the lower end of the internal cylinder 2 has the appearance of being slightly cone-shaped (although this may not be apparent from the drawings because the degree of tapering is very slight. The degree of tapering is sufficient to prevent the caps from freely dropping out of the cylinder 2, but not so great as to prevent the ejection of a cap when force is applied to the cap).

When the caps 3 are inserted into the internal cylinder 2 for storage, the caps fall to the bottom of the cylinder 2 by gravity, and are stopped from falling completely out of the cylinder due to the slight tapering of the end 4 of the cylinder 2. The slight tapering of the end 4 of the cylinder 2 is such that the lowest cap protrudes from the cylinder by about half the height of its rim 5. The slight restriction of the lower opening of the cylinder 2 enables a slight pressure to be exerted on the rim 5 of the lowest cap 3 that is to be ejected from the cylinder.

The apparatus also includes an ejection mechanism for ejecting the lowest cap from the carrying device to enable the cap to drop into the cup 19 below. The ejection mechanism includes an external cylinder 1 that surrounds at least a part of the internal cylinder 2. The external cylinder 1 moves up and down with respect S: to the fixed internal cylinder 2.

oo :The walls of the lower portion 4 of the internal cylinder 2 are provided with 20 one or more slots 6. In the embodiment, there are two or more slots 6 which are positioned symmetrically around the axis 7 of the cylinder 2.

The external cylinder 1 is provided with one or more tabs 8. The tabs 8 are 'o positioned at the lower end of the cylinder 1, and are also positioned symmetrically about the vertical axis 7.

S 25 The tabs 8 of the external cylinder 1 project through the slots 6 of the internal cylinder 2. Thus, the tabs 8 pass through the slots 6, and project slightly into the space of the internal cylinder 2 in order to clasp the lowest cap 3. Each slot 6 is adapted to accommodate a tab 8.

The tabs 8 grip the lowest cap 3 to enable the cap to be easily ejected.

The external cylinder 1 reciprocates up and down with respect to the fixed internal cylinder 2. Thus, the up and down movement of the external cylinder 1 AR enables the tabs 8 to move up and down in unison. The external cylinder 1 therefore acts as a reciprocating device that moves up and down with respect to the carrying device which carries the caps.

In correspondence with the slots 6, the rim 5 of the lowest cap 3 tends to deform outwardly due to the effect of the radial force due of the cone-shaped tapered portion 4 of the inner cylinder 2, and also due to the axial force produced by the stack's weight together with the material's natural elasticity. The deformation causes a bulge by which the tabs 8 can easily grip the cap 3 (and eject it when the external cylinder 1 moves downwards).

As the moveable cylinder 1 moves downwards in relation to the fixed cylinder 2, the tabs 8 move downwards within the slots 6 thus causing the lowest cap 3 to be ejected from the internal cylinder 2.

The external moveable cylinder 1 is made to move downwards as a result of pressure that is exerted on the top 9 of the cylinder 1. The pressure on the external cylinder 1 is obtained by compressed air that is produced by a microcompressor 13. The compressed air is fed from the micro-compressor to the top 9 the cylinder through a duct 12. The compressed air exerts an axial force on the top 9 of the external cylinder 1. The supply of compressed air by the microcompressor is initiated by an electric circuit which is triggered by an electronic station 16 that works after a micro-switch 15 is opened. The micro-switch 20 opens when the cup or container 19 is placed on the cup-supporting base 14.

The external cylinder 1 is supported by a series of springs 10 that are compressed when the external cylinder moves downward.

a The axial force, exerted by the compressed air, is therefore capable of overcoming the opposing force of the springs 10 that are positioned around the 25 moveable cylinder's girth.

•r o After the ejection of the cup 18, the upward force of the springs 10 cause the external cylinder 1 to moves upwards towards its original position, as a result of the air pressure being discharged through a pressure release valve 11. The pressure release valve 11 is positioned on the outlet duct 12 that leads from the micro-compressor 13. When the valve 11 is released, compressed air is released to the atmosphere. As a results, the axial force on the external cylinder 1 subsides, and the springs 10 force the cylinder 1 upwards in order to return the 6 cylinder to its original rest position. The springs 10 also return to their normal rest position.

In the embodiment, the compressed air is stopped when the cup 19 has been perfectly lined with the cap 3, 18. The base of the cup 19 is provided with a hole 20, The base of the cup-supporting device 14 is also provided with another hole or aperture 21. When the cup 19 is placed on the cup-supporting device 14, the holes 20, 21 are aligned. The aligned holes connect the inside of the cup to a vacuum suction source.

A vacuum sensor 22 is located in the air sucking duct. As seen in Figure 1, the sensor 22 is positioned and aligned below the holes 20, 21 in the cup and the cup-supporting device. The vacuum sensor 22 detects the cessation of air flow through the holes 20, 21 which occurs when the cap 18 is finally positioned in the cup 19. Upon sensing the absence of air flow, the vacuum sensor 22 interrupts the flow of pressurised air to the external cylinder 1, and causes the station 16 to shut off the micro-compressor 13, thus assuring perfect lining of the cup or similar container.

As seen in Figure 1, after the lowest cup 3 is ejected from the inner cylinder 2, the cup 18 undergoes a change in orientation as it drops downwards.

el" To achieve this, the apparatus includes a reversing device in the form of a curved 20 projection 17. In the embodiment in Figure 1, a segment of the projection 17 protrudes upwards in such a manner that the protrusion increase and then decreases. In other words, the projection 17 has the appearance of a sickle or crescent, with the concave side facing downwards (as seen in Figure In the embodiment in Figure 1, the projection 17, as a whole, projects laterally towards the vertical axis 7 that runs as an imaginary line through the axis of the supply of caps 3.

In the exemplary embodiment, the role of the reversing device can be understood by visualising the changing orientation of the cap 18 as it drops down.

Initially, as the cap drops, the inner surface of the cap will be supported by that portion of the projection 17 that is furthest from the axis 7 (as illustrated in Figure As the cap 18 continues to drop, the cap is progressively supported by parts of I the projection 17 that are located progressively closer to the central axis 7. The reversal of the orientation of the cap 18 is, as it were, guided by the upper curvature of the projection 17. The end result is that the cap 18 is rotated generally through a 1800 rotation as it drops, so that the open-end of the cap 18 eventually faces upwards when the cap is positioned perfectly in the cup 19.

As seen in Figure 1, the projection 17 projects towards the central axis 7, and does not protrude significantly past the central axis 7. This ensures that adequate space is provided for the cap 18 to rotate about the projection 17. If the projection were to protrude too far past the axis 7, the projection 17 would act as a peg that catches and prevents the cap 18 from falling into the cup 19.

In use, the placement of the container 19 on the support base 14 causes the start of a sequence that results in the downward movement of the external cylinder 1. Specifically, the placement of the container 19 on the support base 14 causes the activation of a micro-switch 15. As seen in Figure 2, the switch 15 is electrically connected to an inlet port of the electronic station. As soon as the station 16 receives the signal that the electrical contact of the switch 15 is closed, thd station 16 energizes a relay that supplies the micro-compressor 13 with electrical current. The micro-compressor 13 produces a flow of compressed air that passes through a flexible duct 12. The action of the compressed air on the external cylinder 1 eventually causes the ejection of the lowest cap from the stack 20 of caps 3. The compressed air exerts an axial force on the top 9 of the movable cylinder 1. This axial force pushes the external cylinder downwards. The tabs 8, which are an integral part of the outer cylinder 1, also move downwards. The downward movement of the tabs 8 causes the lowest cap 3 to be moved Sdownwards until it is eventually ejected from the stack of caps 3.

25 Once the lowest cap 3 is released, the cap 18 falls by gravity. During its Ib •:fall, the orientation of the cap is reversed through an angle of 1800 due to the projection 17 which sets the cap in the correct orientation for it to be inserted into the container 19.

After the cap 3, 18 has dropped into the cup 19, the cap is ready to be pushed down further into the interior of the cup, so that the cap will adhere completely to the inside of the cup and line it perfectly.

8 As mentioned above, both the cup 19 and the cup-support 14 have small holes 20, 21 which are aligned together when the cup is placed on the cupsupport. The holes are is communication with the micro-compressor, which means that air can be sucked through the aligned holes 20, 21. It is this air suction through the holes that enables the cap to be sucked further into the interior of the cup 19. It is believed that the air suction causes a kind of eddy on the lining cap which causes the cap to perfectly adhere to the cup's inner surface.

Once the cup is perfectly lined, the hole 20 at the bottom of the cup is effectively sealed. This prevents further air from being sucked through the hole 21 in the support base. The system therefore shuts off when the cup is completely lined. The sensor 22 detects the cessation or decrease in air pressure or air flow, and closes an electric contact connected to a second inlet port to the electronic station 16. As soon as the closed contact signal arrives at the station 16, a relay is opened thus blocking the feeding of micro-compressor 13. The microcompressor consequently stops until the lined-cup is removed and replaced with another cup. Thereafter, the entire cycle is re-started with a new cup. In other embodiments, the interruption can occur through other similar mechanisms or systems.

In the present invention, the orientation of the cap is reversed while it is S 20 being inserted in the cup or container. In other words, the open-ends of the caps are only made to face upwards when required for use. During the time when the caps are stored in the apparatus (which can be days or weeks depending on the frequency of use of the apparatus), the open ends of the caps are able to face downwards, and hence are less likely to collect dust during storage. In prior art apparatus that keep the open-ends of the caps facing up during storage, the open-ends are more likely collect dust inside the cap.

A further advantage of the embodiment is that the hygienic cap is inserted automatically and adheres to the inside of the cup without requiring manual intervention. Hence, the entire operation occurs in hygienically without contact with the external environment. The operation is rapid and easy, and ensures a perfect adherence of the cap to the cup. In embodiments, the cap is almost RAL. imperceptible when fully inserted in the cup.

The construction details of the exemplary embodiment can be replaced by equivalent parts which may vary in form, dimensions, position of the elements, type of material used, and will nevertheless still be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For instance, in the embodiments, the containers are coffee and tea cups, but other embodiments may use other similar containers where a liner or cap would be beneficial and/or hygienic. The containers can be made of numerous materials, such as plastic, china or ceramics.

The invention in its broadest aspect is not limited to a particular form of mechanism for dispensing the caps. For instance, the mechanism for moving the external cylinder can be modified using mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic or other types of mechanisms.

In the embodiments, the caps are made of plastic, but other suitable materials may be used.

The exemplary embodiment is an electro-mechanical machine which may be used in the refreshment service sector to line the inside and rim of coffee cups, or similar containers which are pierced at the bottom, with a hygienic plastic film i cap, but other embodiments can be used in other service areas or even in homes.

In the embodiment, the shape of the cap corresponds perfectly to the 20 container so that the cap can adhere to the inside of the container. Further embodiments of the apparatus can also be used for other types of containers and cups, provided that the cups have a rim. The apparatus can insert hygienic caps into containers of different sizes by adapting the dimensions of the apparatus to be proportional to the type of liner suitable for the particular container.

S

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus operatively adapted to insert an open-ended cap into a container, the apparatus including: a carrying device adapted to hold the cap in an orientation where the open- end of the cap faces away from the upwards direction; a container-supporting means for supporting the container generally below the carrying device; an ejection mechanism for ejecting the cap from the carrying device to enable the cap, in use, to drop into the container; and a reversing device arranged and adapted to reverse the orientation of the cap as the cap drops such that the cap is positioned in the container with the open-end facing upwards.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the reversing mechanism includes a crescent-shaped portion with the concave side facing downwards. *i 0

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the crescent-shaped portion protrudes laterally up to a central axis that runs through the carrying device.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrying device includes an internal cylinder that carries the cap.

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the lower region of the internal cylinder is slightly tapered to the extent that the cap is prevented from freely 0 falling out of the internal cylinder, but that the cap can be ejected from the internal cylinder by force.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, where the ejection mechanism includes one or more tabs that grip the cap. 11

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the one or more tabs are connected to a reciprocating device that causes the tabs to move up and down in unison such that the tabs eject the cap from the carrying device when the tab or tabs move downwards.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, when dependent on claim wherein the tabs pass through slots in the lower region of the internal cylinder in order for the tabs to grip the cap.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the tab or tabs are connected to the reciprocating device which moves up and down with respect to the carrying device.

An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the reciprocating device is in the form of an external cylinder that generally surrounds at least a part of the S, carrying device.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the Sejection device is activated by air pressure to eject the cap.

12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is provided with a hole in its base. So

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the container-supporting S- means is provided with an aperture, such that, when the container is positioned on the container-supporting means, the hole is aligned with the aperture so that air in the container can be sucked therefrom through the aligned hole and aperture.

14. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cap has a rim for lining the rim of the container.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrying device holds the cap in an orientation where the open-end of the cap faces downwards.

16. An apparatus operatively adapted to insert an open-ended cap into a container, the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of inserting an open-ended cap into a container, the method including the steps of: holding a cap in a carrying device in an orientation where the open-end of the cap faces away from the upwards direction; supporting the container on a container-supporting means generally below the carrying device; ejecting the cap from the carrying device to enable the cap, in use, to drop into the container; and reversing the orientation of the cap as the cap drops such that the cap is positioned in the container with the open-end facing upwards.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the reversing mechanism includes a crescent-shaped portion with the concave side facing downwards, and wherein the method includes the step of rotating the cap on the crescent-shaped portion as the cap drops towards the container.

19. A method according to either claim 17 or 18 wherein the cap is carried by the carrying device in an orientation where the open-end of the cap faces downwards.

A method of inserting an open-ended cap into a container, the method substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the aompanying drawings. 13

21. Apparatus for ejecting, reversing and positioning a hygienic cap inside a container, including: carrying means for carrying the cap, the carrying means having a fixed internal cylinder which is provided with a slightly tapered lower end, the tapered lower end exerting pressure on the rim of the cap; ejection means for ejecting the cap from the carrying means, the ejection means including an external cylinder that is able to be pushed downwards with respect to the fixed internal cylinder, the external cylinder having one or more tabs that each extends through a slot in the lower end of the internal cylinder, each tab being arranged and adapted to grip the cap so that the cap is ejected from the internal cylinder when the external cylinder moves downwards; reversing means for reversing the cap as it falls after being ejected from the carrying means, the cap being reversed generally through an angle of 180 degrees such that the cap is able to be positioned perfectly inside a container positioned generally below on a container-supporting base; means for lowering the external cylinder using pressure exerted on its top end by an activation mechanism, and external cylinder being provided with springs that urge the external cylinder to return to its upper position, the springs being compressable by the lowering of the external cylinder and being adapted to return to their initial position once the cap has been ejected from the carrying device; means for exerting the pressure on the external cylinder; and means for stopping the pressure when the container is completely lined with the cap.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the container has a hole in its S base which communicates with another hole on the container-supporting base while the cap is positioned on it, both holes being connected to the air sucking duct of a compressor, and wherein a vacuum sensor is placed in the duct, the sensor commanding a station to interrupt the compressor once the container is lined. 14

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the mechanism for lowering the external cylinder includes a compressed air circuit, the compressed air being activated by an electronic station by the opening of a micro-switch which is opened when the container is positioned on the container-supporting base, so that the compressor forces compressed air through a duct on the top surface of the external cylinder to push it down.

24. Apparatus according to either claim 22 or 23, wherein the means for stopping the pressure to the movable cylinder includes the vacuum sensor which detects an absence of air being sucked through the hole in the container- supporting base and the hole in the base of the container, the vacuum sensor being adapted to command the station to interrupt the operation of the compressor when the absence of air flow is detected.

Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 24 wherein the external cylinder is adapted to return to its normal position once the cap has been ejected from the carrying device, the return of the external cylinder being due to the release of pressure through a pressure release valve and being due to the force applied by the springs which push the external cylinder up as the springs return to S° their initial position.

26. A method of ejecting and reversing a cap so that the cap lines the inside of a container, the method including the following steps: holding the cap in a carrying device; positioning the container on a container-supporting base such that a hole in the base of the container is aligned with a hole in the container-supporting base; activating an ejection mechanism to eject the cap from the carrying device, the carrying device including an internal cylinder that holds the cap, the internal cylinder having a slightly tapered lower end to hold the cap, the ejection mechanism also including an external cylinder that reciprocates up and down with respect to the internal cylinder, the external cylinder having one or more tabs that pass through openings in the lower end of the inner cylinder, the tabs exerting a downwards force on the rim of the cap when the tabs of the external cylinder move downwards so that the cap is ejected from the carrying device; reversing the orientation of the cap as it falls into the container below so that the cap faces upwards when in the container; lining the container with the cap by sucking air through the holes through a duct using a compressor; stopping the suction through the holes when the container is completely lined with the cap; repeating of the steps after the lined cup is removed and replaced with a new cup to be lined.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein suction is shut off by interrupting the compressor when a sensor detects an absence of air flow in the holes, which signals when the container has been completely lined by the cap. DATED this 10th day of July, 2000 LORENZO DE BELLIS. DOMENICO DE BELLIS and FRANCESCO DE BELLIS WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA g* LCG/RJS/MEH P5907AU00.DOC