DE2411052A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING PLASTIC TO THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR ON THE NECK OF DISPENSER CONTAINERS - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for applying plastic on the outer surface of objects, especially on the neck of dispensing containers

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for applying plastic to the outer surface of objects, in particular to the neck of dispensing containers. In one application, the invention relates to the permanent attachment of cover elements on surfaces that by a metallic thread or similar fastening projections are formed, which serve to receive a removable cap.

When manufacturing flexible tubes, such as toothpaste tubes made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, it is common to to provide a reduced diameter, rigid dispensing nozzle at one end, which is a

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Has external thread on which a closure cap with internal thread is releasably attached. If the content of the A tube of material containing abrasive particles, such as toothpaste, results at or near the exit opening discoloration in the dispensing nozzle if the substance reaches this area and the aluminum surface of the dispensing nozzle grinds off, in particular if the closure cap during the consumption of the tube contents is removed and replaced more frequently.

Attempts have been made to overcome these difficulties by knurling or otherwise roughening outer surface of the metallic dispensing nozzle put a plastic bushing that was made in place and provided with an inwardly directed lip at the outer end, which is the outer edge of the metallic dispensing nozzle covered. On the outer surface of the plastic bushing there was a corresponding thread that was formed during or after the manufacturing process. On this socket an internally threaded cap could then be screwed on, the diameter of which is usually larger than that of standard closures.

A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the outlet opening of the plastic bushing usually has a

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has a reduced cross-sectional area and thereby restricts the normal passage of the tube contents. Besides, this is Process for producing such bushings is expensive, and the external thread of the plastic bushing is insufficiently supported, so that there is a risk that the closure cap will be pulled off or torn off. In U.S. Patents 2,184,712 and

2 829 802 are examples of pre-fabricated plastic bushings fastened around the necks of metal containers, and the manufacture and attachment of such bushings by a molding process is disclosed, for example, in US Pat

3 073 485, 3 124 273 and 3-144 964.

Another suggestion for solving the difficulties which has found extensive application is to those made of metal or a laminate of metal and plastic existing tube bodies solid plastic neck elements or To attach combinations of shoulder and neck elements, which in newer applications by an injection molding process he follows. In addition to the cost of the injection molding process or other fastening process, the combination of tubes made of metal and plastic overall more expensive than a tube made of metal. Find examples of such solutions U.S. Patents 2,038,760, 2,352,384, 2,794,574, 3 295 725, 3 260 410 and 3,465 917-

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The invention relates generally to protective covers for objects and, more particularly, to covering external threads or similar surfaces of necks or dispensing nozzles, of containers with plastic, so that minimal costs are incurred and the covering can be carried out economically and quickly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, thin-walled, lightweight, tubular or hose-shaped cover elements are used of the required size one after the other from the front end of a heat-shrinkable hose or pipe Cut material and apply each of these elements to the outer metal surface of the neck of a dispensing container and heat shrunk. The invention thus comprises a continuous process and apparatus for Applying heat-shrinkable plastic covers to objects.

In US Pat. No. 2,376,909 it has already been proposed to use a single to attach a hose element made of plastic to the threaded attachment of a glass container by heat-shrinking, while Canadian 678,389 describes the releasable Describes attachment to the threaded neck of a metal container.

A major advantage of the invention is that the metal containers with external threads or other fastening

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dispensing nozzles having devices are moved one after the other into and through the device according to the invention, the hose-shaped or tubular cover elements made of heat-shrinkable material automatically in an application station Plastic can be applied to the dispensing nozzle.

Another advantage of the invention is that a synchronous supply of the plastic hose or pipe becomes possible to the application station, the dispensing nozzle being covered in this station one after the other and the hose or Pipe elements are severed from the front end of the hose or pipe. "

The invention also has the advantage that it has a special, "floating" core for spreading the hose from a flat position and for feeding and guiding the hose to the Contains dispensing nozzle of the container.

In one embodiment of the invention, a synchronized feeding and cutting device is provided which is connected to the core cooperates.

In another embodiment of the invention, a carrier element is for example a rotating drum is provided in which the containers are drawn by suction force applied to surface grooves being held. The carrier element moves intermittently to bring the containers one by one to the application station

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to transport. According to this arrangement, the containers are on a continuously moving Conveyor supplied and discharged, which has an intermittently moving area with the carrier element.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

Figure 1 shows the end view of a device for cutting and applying protective tubular Cover elements on the external thread having dispensing nozzle of a toothpaste tube or the like collapsible container.

FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in a side view, with essentially the container feed device is recognizable.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged section along the line III-III from FIG. 1, with essentially the container positioning device is recognizable.

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV from FIG. 3j, with essentially the drive for the separation device is recognizable.

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Figure 5 shows in a section along the line V-V from Figure 3, the intermittent drive for the container positioning device.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged partial section from FIG. 3 _a , the positioning of a compressible tube body being shown when the cover element is to be applied to the dispensing nozzle.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged section along the line VII-VII from FIG. M, with details of the devices for shaping, feeding and separating the plastic hose are recognizable.

Figures 8

and Fig. 9 show in sections along the lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX from FIG. 7 details of the hose feed device.

Figures 10

11 and 11 show, in sections along the lines X-X and XI-XI from FIG. 7, details of the hose severing device.

FIG. 12 shows a section along the line ΧΙΪ-ΧΙΙ Figure 11.

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FIG. 13 shows, enlarged and partially in section, a part from FIG. 7, wherein the hose feed core can be seen.

shows a top view of the device from Figure 13

FIG. 15 shows a view in the direction of the line XV-XV from FIG . 1h.

FIG. 16 shows a set of gripping jaws from the feed device according to FIGS. 8 and 9

FIG. 17 shows a section along the line XVII-XVII from FIG.

Figures 18

to 21 schematically show successive steps of applying a cover element to the an externally threaded dispensing nozzle of a compressible tube body.

FIG. 22 shows schematically in a section along the line XXII-XXII from FIG. 23 a further exemplary embodiment.

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FIG. 23 'shows, in section, an end view of the device from FIG. 22, wherein the modified rotary fastening of the container can be seen.

FIG. 2k shows a tube feed device in a section along the line XXIV-XXIV from FIG.

Let us first consider FIG. 21, which shows an empty toothpaste tube 11 with a compressible tube body and a beveled shoulder region 12 which merges into a hollow, rigid dispensing nozzle 13 of reduced diameter. The tube 11 preferably consists of a one-piece metal part, usually aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The dispensing connector has an external thread Ik ₃ and the open end of the connector is surrounded by a lip 15 directed axially outward. Since such threads are usually formed by deformation or cutting, there are no deviations from the known methods for producing such metal containers. While in the illustrated embodiment the dispensing nozzle 30 has a number of threads Ik , in such a dispensing nozzle or container neck only one or any number of continuous or interrupted threads or other types of projections or deformations for fastening the closure cap can be present.

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The transition between the delivery nozzle and the shoulder area consists of an annular, undercut area l6j d. H. with respect to an area of reduced diameter the core diameter of the thread.

The apparatus to be described effects the application of a neck or dispensing nozzle cover in a continuous manner Machining process that, until the actual application, can be conventional. In Figures 1 and 2, the application station is shown, the application of the covers allows on containers that move on a chain conveyor that has an open end, however, in the rest of the fully formed dispensing container body is conveyed by a molding device, this Moved container body through the application station and then to corresponding stations for putting on the caps, transported on for filling or other types of treatment. The container bodies supplied to this station are unfilled and have no caps (Figure 18).

The conveyor for the container bodies is preferably a roller chain conveyor and has a more or less common one endless chain 21 with laterally protruding fingers 22, of which the compressible container bodies 11 held loosely, as indicated in FIG. 6, for example. The fingers 22 extend perpendicular to the

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Path of movement of the chain. The container bodies to be covered, which have discharge nozzles 13, are fed to the application station by means of the inlet chain area 23 (FIG. 1) and leave it by means of the chain area 2 ¹ I.

As FIG. 1 shows, the empty container bodies are moved on the moving chain area 23 out of the drying oven of a printing and coating station 20 in which they have been heated ^{to 132 ° C. for rapid drying of the applied paint or other surface coatings.} Thus, a considerable amount of heat is stored in the metal of each container body, and the application station is preferably located as close as possible to the outlet of the drying oven in order to be able to utilize at least a part of the stored heat.

For reasons to be stated later, the chain area 2H also moves the processed container bodies as directly as possible from the application station to a cap device 19, in which the usual screw caps with internal threads are attached to the covered dispensing nozzle while the plastic is still warm and so tightly adheres to the Can adapt the external thread of the dispensing nozzle and the internal thread of the closure cap.

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The chain 21 is continuous by means of a not shown Drive is driven to move towards the application station and away from it and runs over an idle Pick-up sprocket 25 which is mounted on a loop control arm 27 which at 28 on a fixed frame part

29 is hinged. The chain also runs over guide chain wheels 26 which are attached to fixed axles on the frame. The swivel arm 27 enables the chain areas 23 and 2 ¹ I to run continuously, while the intermediate area 30 is intermittently stopped during the application process in a manner to be described.

In the device shown, two similar application stations 31 and 32 are provided. The tubular container bodies to be processed are guided through these stations by means of intermittent rotation of a carrier element having grooves on the surface, such as the drum 33 _3. Each groove 3 ^ of the drum extends longitudinally on the drum surface parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum and is shaped to match a single container body. The angular position at which the chain runs onto the drum 33 and is released from it is determined by the position of the sprockets 26, which are preferably arranged so that the chain area

30 between the sprockets 26 and the drum is a tangent

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represents on the drum, whereby an optimal entry of the container into the drum grooves is achieved. In this way, the container bodies are precisely fitted and held in the drum grooves, each of the grooves J> k preferably having a vacuum device as shown in Figs. For this purpose, each drum groove 3 * i has a bottom channel 35 which is connected to a distributor opening 37 in a stationary drum holding shaft 38 via a radial line 36.

The drum 33 is preferably made in one piece from polytetrafluoroethylene or a similar material with low thermal conductivity, so that the in the container bodies stored heat is not dissipated and there are no sharp edges to damage the surfaces of the container body develop.

The openings 37 extend into the shaft passage 39 » which in turn is in communication with a line 40 which leads to a suction pump 4l. The openings 37 in the shaft 38 are sealed with respect to this and the drum 33 by means of a pair of elastic sealing rings 42.

The drum 33 is connected to it by means of a bearing bush 43 rotatably attached to the stationary shaft 38.

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On the socket 43 there is also a Geneva cruciform element attached, which in turn attached to a main sprocket 45 is with which the intermediate region 30 of the conveyor chain 21 combs.

The drum 33 is driven over the Geneva cross element by means of a cam roller 46 which is eccentric on a continuously rotating crank arm 47 is attached, driven. The crank arm 47 sits on a countershaft 48, which carries a driven gear 49, which with a a drive gear 50 attached to a drive shaft 51 combs.

A brake disk 52 under pressure, which is used for Splined movement on the stationary shaft 38 in the longitudinal direction is and by the spring 52 * in frictional engagement is pushed with the drum 33, the drum 33 locks and prevents free rotation after the drum is through the elements 46, 47 rotated through a predetermined angle is. If the chain area 30 during the stop times the drum 33 is stopped, one end of the arm 27 pivots in the counterclockwise direction so as to adjust the size of the chain loop of the chain portion 53 while the other end pivots so that the size of the chain loop

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of the chain area 24 is reduced. When the drum 33 is rotated intermittently, it moves the chain section 30 at a speed sufficiently higher than the continuous moving speed of the areas 23 and 24, so that the arm 27 and the chain loops restore the state before the next stopping time, which is shown in FIG.

The drive shaft 51 is continuously driven via a gear 53 through which the drive of the application station with the drive of the device which transports the container bodies to the application station by means of the chain area 23, coordinated and synchronized. Furthermore, the treated ones are transported by means of the transmission Containers for filling or other further processing. The chain area 23 and the gear 53 can be in a drive connection with one another, as shown in FIGS is indicated by a common drive 18.

It can be seen that there are two application stations, so that at the same time the dispensing nozzle of two container bodies can be covered, with each step movement of the drum transports a pair of containers into the application station. Thus, the number of stops of the drum per revolution can be equal to half the number of grooves 34 in the

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Drum 33 be. For example, has the Maltese cross element 33 ten in. equidistant from each other Recesses 54, each of which receive the cam roller 46 can, so can twenty parallel grooves 34 in one Circumferential spacing of 18 ° on the drum 33 can be provided.

The shaft 51 is in drive connection via a coupling 55 with a camshaft 56, the function of which will be given later will be described.

As FIGS. 18 to 21 show, the task of the application device is to attach a plastic hose 57 open the dispensing nozzle, cut the front section of this hose to a predetermined length, so that a short envelope or a cover 58 is created, and to hold this on the dispensing nozzle so that a Heat shrinkage or other treatment becomes possible, which leads to a tight enclosure of the dispensing nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

The tubing 57 may be any suitable heat shrinkable Made of plastic. Preferably, a polyvinyl chloride film is used, which has a wall thickness of a few a hundred millimeters and can be quickly pulled over the dispensing nozzle as a cover element of the desired size can. Other Examples of Heat Shrinkable Plastics'

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are polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene or the like. Other heat-shrinkable materials are in the USPS 2,452,607.

The tubing, which is initially in the form of a strip 59 compressed flat, is made by a pair Supply rolls 60 to each of the application stations 31 and conveyed, as indicated in FIG. These stations have the same structure, so that only station 31 will be described in detail.

After being pulled off the roll 60, the strip arrives in a guide tube 61 which is fastened in a stationary manner in the frame part 62. The front end of the strip (FIG. 7) opens and encloses and slides along a web 63 ₃ which forms part of the core 6 * 1 which extends to the application station 31. This core is not completely restrained against movement and can be viewed as a so-called floating element that can move freely in any direction to a very small degree. The size of the possible movement does not exceed the movement compatible with the hose material which surrounds the core over its entire length, this hose material without a corresponding advance on the part of the core

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must be freely movable to the application station.

The core 64 can be seen in detail in FIGS. 7 and 13 to 15. The web 63 extends into the interior. of the strip 59 and merges over the shoulder area 65 into a spreader tube 66 which is arranged at right angles to the web 63. The angle of the shoulder region 65 is preferably 45 °. The movement of the strip over the web 63 and the expansion area 66 leads to a deformation from the flat to the tubular state. The expansion area 66 is attached to a first cylindrical socket area 67 of the core, which is connected to a second cylindrical socket area 68 via a shank 69 of reduced diameter. The core extends from the. Bushing area 68 to a cylindrical separating area 70 of slightly reduced diameter, and this separating area merges into a divergent beveled end piece Jl which is located at the outer end of the core and has a diameter which is substantially equal to that of the cylinder areas. 67 and 68, ie a diameter which is just so much smaller than that of the hose that the material can slide along the core.

The core 64 is advantageously constructed from several separate elements. So are the web 63 and expansion part 68 preferably in one piece from a hard, smooth synthetic

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fabric, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. this has proved to be much cheaper to achieve a smooth, effective opening of the moving flat lying plastic hose proved to be metal. The one from socket part 67, The core section consisting of the shaft 69 and the socket part 68 is expedient to achieve sufficient rigidity made of metal. The end piece 71 resting on the container neck or dispensing nozzle is advantageously made made of a non-thermally conductive material, such as polyfluoroethylene, which can be inserted into the hollow end of the socket part 68 as a plug, for example. His job is to keep the heat losses of the container body • during the application of the element 58 as low as possible to keep.

As mentioned above, the core is minor movable in all directions, d. H. he's not completely pegged against movement in all directions, though his freedom of movement is very limited. In the longitudinal direction his mobility is sufficient to ensure that he is pressed against the container neck or the dispensing nozzle when the hose for applying the element 58 is forward is moved. Thus, the core is loose from supports surrounding the socket part 68 as well as from its shoulder area 65 held, which rests in a retaining collar 72. This retaining collar

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consists of two semi-cylindrical parts which are concentrically attached to the feed tube 61 by means of flaps 73 »which engage in corresponding grooves. It will be understood that the retaining collar 72 can only be attached to or detached from the feed tube 61 when it is pulled out of the attachment tube Jk.

The fastening tube 7k is rigidly attached to the frame, and each of the supply rolls 60 is preferably arranged freely rotatable on a support arm 60 which is held on a rod 60b rigidly attached to the outer end of the tube Ik (Figure 3) in the correct position in the machine.

The split retaining collar 72 prevents excessive movements of the core away from station 31 and in the station the movement of the core is limited by the presence of a dispensing nozzle 13. In cases where there is no container is present in the station, frictional contact through the hose prevents the core from moving too far to the right moves in Figure 7, which is sufficient, since in these cases the core is not subjected to any force that it with respect to the Station would move.

As FIGS. 7 and 13 show, the supplied hose from the expansion area 66 is perpendicular to the plane of the flat one

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Strip, in which a spreading was initially carried out by the web 63, spread open. When the front end of the hose has reached the socket part 67 and. begins to slide over this, it becomes essentially cylindrical Open position stretched.

The tube sets the sheathing of the core up to the application station away, and when the open front end of the hose has reached the station, a short distance will be or a cover element 58 separated from the hose. The separated cover element is together with the rest of the Core surrounding part of the tube is moved forward in order to apply the cover element to the dispensing nozzle. While During this feeding process, the core itself is moved somewhat in the direction of the feed and towards the discharge nozzle to be covered. However, its movement is interrupted as soon as it rests on the dispensing nozzle. The thermally insulated end piece 71 of the Core prevents heat transfer from the container to the core. When the core comes to rest in this way and is still in contact with the dispensing nozzle, it moves separated element 58 under the action of the hose feed devices in a manner to be described later with regard to FIG the core, so that it is applied to the dispensing nozzle surrounding the latter, which is indicated in FIG.

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After the cover element has been applied to the dispensing nozzle, the corresponding tube body is removed from the Application station moved (Figure 19), the dispensing nozzle by the movement of the chain area 30 between a pair of heating elements 75 (Figures 1 and 2) is moved therethrough, causing complete shrinkage of the cover element 58 so that this is in the figures 20 and 21 as shown tightly around the Abga "trim.

As FIG. 18 shows, the longitudinally displaced cover element 58 moves quickly over the thread 30 until it rests against the metallic shoulder area 12, which is warmer than the thread 13 due to its greater mass. In any case, the cover element 58 does not start over the dispensing nozzle to shrink until its front end surrounds the undercut area 16, so that the front end is in annular contact with this area in the manner shown in FIG. The heat stored in the thread area can be sufficient to fix the cover element 58 at least partially by means of shrinkage. In any case, the initial shrinkage in the area 16 causes the very light cover element 58 to be fixed on the dispensing nozzle and holds it there while the container is being transported out of the station 31 and into the heating station 75.

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When covering a dispensing nozzle or container housing according to this exemplary embodiment, it is necessary to cut off a corresponding element from the plastic tube and transfer it to a dispensing test piece, which is held in the application station. As far as the positioning of the dispensing nozzle is concerned, ask the intermittent drive for the carrier drum 33 and the vacuum holding devices cooperating with this drum a correct transverse position of a container body, which is carried by the drum, assures, so that the dispensing nozzle is in a coaxially aligned position in the application station and in a corresponding fluchten-.de or nearly flush with the end 71 of the core is moved. Before the cover element 58 is applied, the dispensing nozzle should be in the correct position in the application station not only laterally but also in the longitudinal direction. to be brought. For this purpose, a compressed air cylinder 76 is provided (Figures 3 and 6), which has a piston with a Has thrust element 78. The cylinder is from a operated with a corresponding pressure source connected control valve 79 and operated by a stop 80 on the rotating crank arm 47 triggered. For each of the stations 31 and 32 there is a separate cylinder 67 with control. The piston of each cylinder 67 is actuated periodically, to align a container body in the longitudinal direction with each complete revolution of the crank arm 47, wherein

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with each revolution of the stop 80, the valve 79 opens. This valve closes after the stop has passed 80 and the pusher element 78 is withdrawn by an internal spring, not shown, which acts on the piston.

The pusher element 78 is normally withdrawn so that the container bodies fed on the rotatable drum 33 can come into an axially aligned position with the respective application station. After delivery, the piston rod 77 is timed so that the pusher member 78 pushes the container body along the groove 3 * t and to a predetermined location in the application station where the container body is nearly in contact with the end face of the core itself when it is completely withdrawn. The suction on each of the grooves 3 * f enables a controlled displacement of the relatively light container in the longitudinal direction, so that the displacement of the container body is not greater than the stroke of the piston of the cylinder 76. By the operation of the thrust element 78 in connection with the short longitudinal movement the "floating" core ensures that the core is in abutting contact with the dispensing nozzle during the transfer of the cover element 58 to the dispensing nozzle.

If the core extends in the longitudinal direction beyond the application station, the dispensing nozzle of the

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supplied container body rest against it and move it inward, as shown essentially in FIG is.

If the discharge port is introduced into the application station, the cover 58 can be separated from the tube, for which purpose, for example, circular knives 81 are provided, preferably four disc blade as shown in the figures, k ₃ 7 and 10 is illustrated to 12, wherein respective pairs of blades of Pairs of radially movable brackets 82 are attached, which are constantly pressed by compression springs 83 towards the core.

The brackets 82 can be moved towards and away from one another in corresponding slideways of the guide 82 ' movable and are normally arranged by a pair between them and attached to a sliding element 85, axially extending wedge heads .. .84 kept apart. The sliding element 85 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction and rotatably mounted in a drive sleeve 86 on which a roller 87 is supported. The entire arrangement of the parts Ie within the drive socket 86 is by means of a unit of the roller 87 rotatably, which is attached to a shaft 90 via a belt 88 and driven by a motor .91 Drive roller 89 is driven.

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When the knives 81 are to separate a piece from the hose, the wedge heads 84 are pulled out between the holders 82 so that the springs 83 then automatically bring the rotating knives 84 into cutting contact with the part of the hose which surrounds the severing area 70 of the core.

The retraction of the wedge heads 84 is achieved by lowering the driver ball 92 (FIG. 7), which is in contact with a smooth, frustoconical cam surface 85 'on the sliding element 85' and rests on a displaceable driver pin 93, which in turn rests on a bridge rod 94 which is slidably mounted on a separating cam 94a. As FIG. 4 shows, a single cam 94a and the bridge rod 94 can actuate the pins 93 of the two stations 31 and 32 at the same time. The pin 93 is fixed in a vertical guide bore 93 'and reacts to movements of the rod 94 by the force of gravity. The element 85 is under the action of the compression springs 95> which act via sleeves 95 'mounted in the guide 82', so that the wedge heads are withdrawn. Retraction is prevented when the ball 92 is in the upper position according to FIG. The cam 94A is mounted on a camshaft 56 so that it is operable in synchronism with the intermittent movements of the carrier drum 33.

It can be seen that the cam 94A, the ball 92 normally urged upwardly into rolling contact with the element 85

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so that this is on the right in FIG. 7 and the wedge heads 8 ¹ J hold the circular knives 81 from the part of the hose surrounding the region 70 of the core. The cam 9 ** A periodically shifts the pin 93 downward, causing the ball 92 to move away from the element. 85 comes free and this can be moved to the left in FIG. 7 in order to pull out the wedge heads and initiate the separation process. After the separation process, the cam 9 ** A causes the rod 9M, pin 93 and ball 92 to be shifted back up into the position according to FIG. 7, in order to again separate the knife from the hose.

After a cover element 58 has been cut off, it is necessary to transfer it to the corresponding dispensing nozzle. This takes place after the push element 78 has moved the container axially in the groove 3 * 1. In order to achieve this transfer, the fed hose is moved towards the application station (to the right in FIG. 7) by an amount which is equal to the length of the separated element. The tube is pushed forward with respect to the core, since the core cannot perform such a movement due to its limited axial mobility and its position is usually determined by the existing dispensing nozzle. However, if necessary, the core is moved sufficiently towards the dispensing nozzle so that there is a system, and the transfer of the separated

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Element 58 from the core to the dispensing nozzle 13 is achieved without the risk of the cover element falling off or being misaligned. Before the feed of the hose is effected, the knives 81 must be retracted by the action of the cam 9 ^ A, as above has been explained, and the fed hose is then sufficient as a pushing element to transfer the separated To achieve cover element on the dispensing nozzle of the container body.

In order to achieve an intermittent transport of the hose, a freely displaceable bush 96 is arranged on the shaft 69 of the core. This bushing 96 is under a slight pressure acting in the axial direction from the compression spring 97. The bushing 96, like the core, is enclosed by the hose, and when the hose is to be moved forward, a number of jaws 98 are shifted around the bushing 96 over the hose surrounding it, whereupon the socket and the hose are moved together by the desired distance towards the application station (to the right in FIG. 7). Preferably, the outer circumference of the bushing is roughened or covered with a material with a high coefficient of friction in order to increase the grip of the jaws. The jaws 98 are placed tightly around the hose by compression springs 99 and are normally driven by rollers 1ΟΟ _Α which are arranged in oblique transverse slots 101 in the jaws 98,

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held outside their grip position.

The jaws 98 are mounted radially displaceably in slots 98 'in a fixed plate 102. The rollers 100 are arranged to be freely rotatable on a shaft which extends in the longitudinal direction from one side of a driver plate 103 which is rotatable in the outer housing 10 ¹¹ .

The driver plate 103 (Figure 8) has a cam edge

IO5 'which is in contact with a driver roller 106 which can be actuated by a vertically displaceable driver pin 107 which is mounted on a bridge rod 108'. This bridge rod is actuated by a feed cam IO8 arranged on the shaft 56 and works in the same way as described above in connection with the separating cam Sk . The bridge rod 108 'can actuate pins 107 in the same way as the rod Sk in both stations 31 and 32.

Thus, the cam IO8 causes a periodic displacement of the pin 107 in the bore I07 ¹ upwards in order to press the roller 106 against the cam edge 105 and thereby rotate the driver plate 103 about its axis. The rollers 100 are thus moved to "radially inward" areas of the associated slot 101, as a result of which the springs 99 move the jaws radially inward

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can to put the hose between the jaws and the socket 96 clamp.

The housing 104 is on the mounting tube 74- in the longitudinal direction slidably attached and is secured against rotation by a wedge-groove connection 104 '.

The advancing movement of the hose held by the jaws is caused by movement of the outer housing 104 in the longitudinal direction (in Figure 7 to the right) generated against the action of the return spring 109, which in the axial direction between the stationary mounting tube 74 and a housing shoulder 110 is compressed. The spring 109 is compressed when the housing 104 is on the application station moved closed so that it stores energy to act as a return spring when the jaw assembly is no longer is in the engaged position.

The required axial movement of the housing 104 is brought about by a driving pin 111 which is held by a bearing roller 112 which is arranged between a pair of axial lift cams 113. These cams are mounted on the shaft 56 for synchronous operation with the intermittent drive of the carrier drum 34 and the actuation of the knives 81. The pin 111 extends into an enclosing bore 111 ¹ in the housing 104 and is controlled by the cams. 113

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shifted forward and backward in the directions indicated by arrows. The cam is actuated in such a way that the pin 111 is only ^{shifted to the right in FIG. 7 during the short period of time in which the hose N is moved} in the longitudinal direction, while during the rest of the time it is shifted to the left and held in the left position will.

In Figures 22 to 2 ¹ J another embodiment is shown. A feeding and cutting device for a continuous, flexible hose 57 contains a core rod 121 made of ferromagnetic material, which can be inserted into the free end 122 of the hose, a "number of endless conveyor belts 123 " which engage with the outer surface of the hose can be brought to move this from the supply roll to the discharge nozzle to be covered, a rotary knife 12 ¹ I for separating the hose and a magnetic device 125 »which, when energized, moves the core rod 121 and thus the free end of the hose by a" predetermined distance in the axial direction , and a switching device for de-energizing the magnetizing device after the feed movement has been carried out, whereby the newly formed free end of the hose comes into contact with the conveyor belts.

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Preferably three conveyors are provided, of which the lower two are offset from one another by 120 ° in a common one Lie level, while the third is in an area above the free end of the plastic tube. Thus, after the ferromagnetic rod 121 has been introduced, the conveyors press the hose against the delivery nozzle, until a position is reached in which the ferromagnetic rod has taken a position in the hose, which is the free end of the hose in a length of about

equal to or slightly more than the length of the discharge nozzle to be covered (Figure 22) can protrude beyond the end of the rod. At the same time, the rod 121 is moved, as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. To the initial To facilitate the introduction of the ferromagnetic rod, one of the conveyors, for example the upper one, can be pivotable or otherwise removable so as to expose the upper surfaces of the lower two conveyors onto which the hose is laid with the ferromagnetic rod contained in it.

The magnet 125 may consist of an electromagnet which excites via a circuit including the switch 126 will. The switch actuation can be carried out with the actuation devices for the knife or other cutting devices be coordinated to cut off the plastic hose.

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The strength of the magnet is preferably chosen so that a displacement of the rod with respect to the between the Conveyor held hose occurs when the next tube of toothpaste is aligned with the hose, with the The free end of the hose protrudes beyond the rod, as shown in the solid representation in FIG. In addition, the switch 126 may be coordinated with the facility that removes the treated tube of toothpaste and the like from the Area of the axis of the rod pivots, whereby the next tube of toothpaste is brought into the closed position. The toothpaste tubes are held at equal angular intervals in mounts 127 of a rotary head 128, which rotates around an axis 129 is rotatable. This rotary head is gradually moved into the desired rest positions by a drive (not shown) moved, in each of which the covering elements are applied.

In a modification of this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electromagnet can be through one or more Replace permanent magnets that can be moved to or from a position in which they hold the rod influence. The ferromagnetic rod itself can be inserted through a hollow cylinder or a tube, something of depends on the weight that the two lower conveyors take up can. The sponsors. Can use the usual sponsors

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endless belt or with hose belts, the compressed air o «Ä. included. A heater 131 is used for heat shrinking of the separated cover element on the dispensing nozzle. .

In the exemplary embodiments of the invention described above, the free end of the plastic hose has a diameter which enables it to be easily pushed onto the dispensing nozzle of the container, which has an external thread, the cover element then preferably being seated on the thread with slight friction in order to enable it to be held, until heat shrinking is performed.

While in the embodiment described above the separated cover element is fed to a dispensing nozzle which. Threads or other fastening protrusions the invention also comprises a continuous process and an apparatus for supplying cover elements Suitable size and for applying these cover elements to objects fed in continuously, such as container necks without threads, for example heat-shrinkable caps for filled wine bottles, as well any other type of article that can sequentially receive cover elements.

The invention has been described above on the basis of various exemplary embodiments. However, it is not

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these are limited, but further modifications and changes are possible, all of which are covered by the invention fall.

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Claims (1)

Expectations Continuous process for applying cover elements made of heat-shrinkable plastic Objects, characterized in that the objects are positioned one after the other in an application station that cover elements of a predetermined size transported from a continuous supply and on the objects located in the application station are applied and that the cover elements on the items are heat shrunk. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that periodically the front open end of a hose moved in the direction of the application station and timed at the front end with the advance of the Hose separates a cover element of the required length and is applied to the object. 3 · The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the separated cover element by advancement the hose is pushed onto the container. ¹ J. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the hose is pushed onto the container before the cover element is separated * 409838/0811 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to * t for application a cover on a container with a metallic dispensing nozzle and an adjoining one Shoulder area, with the container being transported from a drying oven to the application station, thereby characterized in that the heat shrinkage of the cover element on the dispensing nozzle at least partially the heat stored in the container takes place. 6. The method according to claim 5 » characterized in that the cover element is first heat-shrunk in the transition area of the dispensing nozzle and shoulder area. 7 · Device for applying cover elements heat-shrinkable plastic on objects, in particular on dispensing spouts of containers, characterized by a device for successive Positioning of the articles at an application station, by means of generation and for supplying cover members of predetermined size from a continuous supply to that in the Application station located object and by a heating device for heat-shrinking the cover element on the object. 409838/0811 8. Apparatus according to claim I _3, characterized in that the continuous supply consists of a hose movable in the longitudinal direction and that a cutting device for separating a cover element is provided at the application station. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by a conveyor for transporting the objects from a drying oven to the application station. 10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized characterized in that the objects can be fed continuously to the application station and continuously from it can be removed and that the objects in the application station can be fixed periodically for a period of time. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that continuously moving conveyor for transport of the objects to and away from the application station and that are in the application station an intermittently moving device is located. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized by a continuous chain conveyor with a itself intermittently moving area within the application station. 409838/0811 13 · Device according to one of claims 7 to 12 ·, characterized in that the objects in the application station holding device consisting of a rotatable drum with distributed around the circumference, grooves running in the longitudinal direction and that the transport device for the container Existing items embody a chain conveyor with a number of laterally extending Pinger for holding the container body is, which brings the container body one after the other into the drum grooves and removed them from them. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by an intermittent drive for a periodic rotation of the drum by a predetermined * th angle in one direction. 15 · Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized through vacuum connections in the drum grooves to hold the objects. 16. Device according to one of claims 13 to 1'5, characterized by synchronizing means for synchronizing the rotation of the drum with the Movement of the containers lengthways in the grooves. 409838/0811 17 · Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the device for Movement of the hose actuators for periodic engagement with the anterior Contains end of the hose and for movement towards the object, which is synchronous with the positioning device are operable. 18. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the hose is flat Form can be fed and that a spreading device for spreading open the front end of the hose during feed movement of the hose is provided. 19 · Device according to claim 18, characterized in that that the spreader includes a "floating" core, the periphery of which is separated from the moving hose is surrounded. 20. The device according to claim 19 , characterized in that the feed device for the hose includes a hose section surrounding the core periodically grabbing and moving the hose together with the core up to the stop on the object device, which after the core hits the object opposite the hose moved to the core. 409838/0811 21. Device according to one of claims 7 to 20, characterized by a synchronous with the feed of the hose, cutting device that can be intermittently brought into circumferential contact with the hose. 22. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized by a device for control the arrangement and displacement of the hose with a "floating" core surrounded by the hose, by a limiting device for limiting both the axial and the radial movement of the core, through a hose feed device with a spring-loaded bushing, which in The longitudinal direction of the core is displaceable, a clamping device for periodic actuation of clamping jaws movable in the radial direction for gripping the hose section, the clamping device periodically movable to move the bushing and the hose towards the end of the core is, and through a hose severing device with a periodically operable, in engagement with the Circumference of the hose bringable knife. 23. Device according to claim. 22, characterized by cam devices for synchronous actuation of the Jaws, the drive for the clamping device and the separating device. '409838/0811 24. Device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized characterized in that the holding means for the objects in the application station are a number of fits and is gradually movable. Device according to Claim 24, characterized in that the holding device is a rotary head. 26. Device according to one of claims 7 to 18, characterized in that the spreading device consists of a rod-shaped core made of magnetic material and that a controlled * excitable electromagnet is provided for moving the core. 27 · Device according to claim 26, characterized in that the feed device for the hose conveyor which can be brought into engagement with the outer surface of the hose. 28. Core for use in a device according to one of claims 19 to 23 » characterized by a rear end section for introduction into the front end of the hose and by angled, longitudinally extending webs made of hard, smooth plastic material, as well as by a relatively strong intermediate area and a front end area made of heat-insulating material. 409838/0811 29 · Core according to claim 28, characterized in that the intermediate area is attached in a displaceable manner Has socket which is under a spring pressure directed to the rear section. 30. Core according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the webs and the front end region made of polytetrafluoroethylene exist. 409838/0811