US1875110A - Machine for applying collars to bottles - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 3Q, EZ. L MYERS LSYS@ MACHINE FOR APPLYING COLLARS TO BOTTLES Filed Jan. 28, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lfm/enfer LEO M YE/s E @Wwf/WM?,

Aug@ 3Q, E32. L. MYERS;

MACHINE FOR APFLYING COLLARS TO BOTTLES Filed Jan. 28, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iriver/for' Aug. 30, 1932. MYERS A 1,875,110

MACHINE FOR APPLYING COLLARS TO BOTTLES Filed Jan. 28. 1951 4 sheets-sheet 3' /nven for' LEO Ivy/P5 A orne v Aug. 30, 1932. L. MYERS 1,875,110

MACHINE FOR APPLYING COLLARS TO BOTTLES Filed Jan. 28, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 In ven for LEO MYERS Patented Aug. 30, 1932 PATENT OFFICE LEO MYERS, F KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI MACHINE FOR APPLYING COLLARS T0 BOTTLES Application filed January 28, 1931.

This invention pertains to machines for handling articles and more particularly to a machine forapplyingto bottles such as milk bottles, an article such as a paper collar, whichcollars are often used to carry advertising'matter to the milk customers along with the bottle of milk.

lt has been found thatthis type of paper collarwhich is usually conical in form and is placed over the bottle neck so as to rest on the shoulder of a bottle, is a convenient and an edective advertising medium. It lends itself well to the display of advertising matter, attracts the attention of the customer when he receives his bottle of milk each day and is distributed with the milk bottles at substantially no additional cost. lt is desirable, therefore, particularly in installations which turn out a large number of such bottles each day to provide automatic means for placing these collars on the bottles. Such means are required not only to save the cost of manual handling, but to avoid delay of the product since these bottles pass thru the plant at a rapid rate in order to maintain a large output.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide adevice which will automatically apply such articles to a product element such as a milk bottle.

Another object is to provide such a device which may be mountedin the path of the bottles as they pass thru the plant and which will carry out its function during such passage and without delaying the product.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which a stack of -the articles maybe placed and which will successfully transfer an article to each bottle as it passes on its way.

Another object is to provide such a device together with means for positively feeding the bottles and which is actuated by the bottle as it is fed along.

Another object is to provide such a device capable of handling such frail and flexible articles as paper cones in a positive and reliable manner so that the articles are transferred, one at a time.V

59 Another object is to provide such a device Serial No. 511,801.

which while capable of positively feeding the bottles in succession is so arranged as tov slip incase the progress of the bottles is arrested for any reason.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is positive in its action, cheap to manufacture and durable in service.

\ Other objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure l is a side View of a machine embodying this invention;

Figure la is an enlarged detail of Fig. l;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2 2 0f F 65 Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Figure 4c is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; showing th-e feeding mechanism in position to feed a bottle.

' Figure 5y is a similar view showing the action of a bottle being fed in actuating the transferring mechanism. A

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 6 6 of Fs- 4:; s 'z5 Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1 with parts broken away illustrating the transferring mechanism and showing the parts in position for depositing a collar on a bottle.

Figure 8 is a similar View showing the parts in position to take an article from the stack;

Figure 9 is a plan view somewhat enlarged of the mechanism of Figures 7 and 8 showing more clearly the construction and method of the article holder;

F Figure 10 is a section on line 10 10 of Figure 10a is an enlarged detail of Fig.

l0 showing more clearly the action of the holder claws.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a machine representing an embodiment of this `invention adapted to be applied to a milk bottle conveyor on a bottle filling machine7 such as is ordinarily used in dairy plants. In the drawings l designates the side rail of such a conveyor, the conveyor belt being shown at 2. A row of bottles is indicated in broken lines at 3, these bottles being carried by the conveyor 2f in a direction toward the right of Fig. 1. Y

Secured in anysuitable manner to each of vthe rails 1 is an upstanding frame 4, such i 5 frame having complementary side members on each` side of the conveyor, said side members are held injspaced relation over the eon-r "veyor by one or more'cross rods, a cross frame 6 at the upper end and a transverse ring frame 7 near its middle portion.

The upper cross frame'G is providedwith* a semi-circular socket 8 adaptedto receive a tubular support 9. Anclamping member 10 is hinged at 11 on the, cross member andV 15 has a ,forked end 12 adapted vto receive a elampingfscrew 13.y The screw 13 is pivoted i Y at 14 onthemember 6 so that it may be swung intolor out ofthe forked end12 of the clamping member, A thumb nut 1,5'y is arranged Y 20 onf the'screwfl s'ogthatvr it may ybe lscrewed downl-uponthe forkedend of-the clampl() j 'so' as to clampthe tubular support 9 rigidly inthe cross member 6. In orderto accurately Y locate`v the support 9 longitudinally, the same 2.5 may be perforated to receive a cdowell 16 .y cated in'jFigure y1. Thertube-9 issetifatsuch 'an inclination tothe verticalfth'at the stack of articles will'tend tolsliderdown the tube by gravity. Y f v Y `V Y Mounted in thering 7 is va series of fre-v 4o straining fingers 18. These fingers are spaced v at intervals around the circumference ofthe ring Y 7. Theyl are preferably formed 1 of spring materialfso 'asto be resilient'. .I Each may` be vsecuredto the ring 7 by a screw 19 and anadjusting screw 2O may be provided vfor*'adjusting theftension of each: finger. These fingers extend downwardly Valong ythe axis ofthe ring 7 thru'which thetube 9 also passes: The stack of articles 17 sliding down 50 said tubel is arrested by engagement with. the

' fingers 18. The lingers are so placed as to substantially lencircle .the stackfofv articles. The tip of each finger is bent inwardlyto a slight extent so that only its tip engages the 55 "terminal article 17 of the stack. lvWhen such engagement is effected the movement fof the stack isarrested and furthermovement ofthe articles isrestrained bythese fingers.

In order to :insure Apositive feeding of the '6G stack of a-rticlesla weighted' feeding element Y 21 ismounted on the tube 9. This'element mayhave a conical .exterior lsurface .'itting the collars in' the stack andisprovided witha cylindrical bore having a slidingrfitlupon the tube 9. This @feeding 'elementnslides' dow-n the tube against the rear end of the stack and continually bears by gravity on .the

stack so as to urge lit downwardly along the tube. In order toV resist back pressure of the mechanism on the stack when taking thedog V22. may turn freely about the pivot 23 so as `not" to Hretard the downward movement of the element21.: lUpon reverse movement, however, the Vdog 22 is wedged against theA tube 9 so asto'press the shoe 24 against the tube thereby providing a frictionV stop adaptedA toresist rearward movement of the Stadi! S, `1. L `rl Y `Mounted between theside frames 4 at the right rhand endV thereof, Fig. 1, isv across frame 25 shown moreclearly in Figs 9 andi 10. -Mounted inthe frame 25 is a pair 'of guides 26 adaptedto support-and guideja pairfofro'ds 27. The rods'27 are'joined lat their'upper endsby -a'carrier 28 equipped with bearings 29 in which is journaled across shaftV 30.I The shaft() has fixed thereto by lug Sliasuctionhead 32. The headf32 has formed therein four radiallydivergent these passages hasconnected thereto a iiexible suction tube34 whose other endis connected -airpassages 3,13 which are all connected to` gether at vthe center ofthe head.'` VOne of to a suction pipe 85 mounted onzone of the y'side frames 4..y Thepipe,isconnected in anysuitablemanner, not shown, toa suitable.-

sourc'e iofsvacuum, such as a Yvacuum Y tank, suction pump,y or the like. `Each of the other e passages A33 is connected bya iiexible connec.

tion 36, such as a rubber tube, to a suction vgripper 37 pivotedlat 38 to an ar1n39y onthe head Y52.

The' gripper 37 -is thus flexibly mounted on the head 32. One of the passages n 33has aninlet openin-g`40 which may be closed by a v,valve 41v pivoted at 42 on suc-h head. K f

n 'The shaft SOhas fixed thereto near one end V fa'pinion43 inengagementwith a gear s-ector 44, (see Figs. 7 and 8), pivoted on a stud 45 mounted vin the head 32, said sector being rigidly connected to an arm 46 equipped itsiother end with a. camroll'er 47. Mounted onone of theside'frames 4 is a cam bracket'rv 48 having a vcam siotf49 adapted to receive the .roller y'47 when the head 32'is in vits normal position' as shown in Figs. 7'and `10. AThe carn148 also has a straight face 50 along which the'roller 47 moves after it has passed outofA theslot 49 upon movement ofthe holder as will'be described later. f

,The head132togetherggwith Vthe arms 39 and the suction grippers 37 at the ends thereof,

f forma holder adapted tojreceive and hold one of thev paper colla'rsy17.

It will be seen by referenceito 10 inclusive, Ythat whenj the; carrierf28 is rige? a' moved upwardly, being carried by the rods 27 sliding in the guides 26, the cam roller 47 will be moved upwardly out' of the slot 49 and will roll forward on the straight face 50 of the cam. As the roller moves upwardly in the slot 49 the sector 44 will move downwardly and will thereby cause the pinion 43 to be rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 8. This rotates the shaft 30 which carries with it the head 32. Thus the article holder is moved from its normal or delivery position as shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, 'to its taking position as shown in Fig. 8. Theholder accomplishes its complete movement during the rise of the roller 47 out of the slot 49. Thereafter the roller moves along the straight face 50 and keeps the holder in its taking position as it moves up to the stack of collars. As it engages the terminal collaryof the stack theflexible grippers 37 of which there are 3 in themachine illustrated, adjust themselvesto the surface of the cone `and are yieldingly pressed therea-gainst as will be more fully described later. luring the forward movement of the holder the valve 41 vis closed so that the suction is active at the grippers 37. Consequently when these grippers engage the terminal collar 17 the Vcollar will be firmly drawn into engagement with said grippers by the suction activo therein.

In order to assist in dctaching the terminal collar from the stack the holder is further provided with a series of spring arms 51 mounted at 52 on the head 32 and yieldingly' pressed into engagement with the collar. The'tip of each arm is provided with a sharpened claw 53 which may be pressed into engagement with the collar 17. The end of each of these arms 51 is providedwith a lateraly extending pin 54 which protrudes at both sides of the claw 53. Mounted in suitable positions on the ring 7 are springs 55 each'equipped at its end with a p-air of fingers 56 spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the pin 54 to drop between them. Each finger 56 carries ashoe 57 which extends inwardly from the finger d 56a sufficient distanceto engage the end of 5 the pin 54 while permitting the arm 51 to pass between these shoes. As the holder -moves up to the end of the stack of collars thepins 54 engages the outside surfaces of theshoes 57, ride over these shoes and thereafter drop between the fingers 56 so that the claws 53 come into engagement with the collar. As the holder is now withdrawn (by mechanism which will be described later) the pins 54 engage the underside of the shoes 57 and are firmly pressed into engagement with the collar 17 by the resiliency of the arms 55. This causes the claws to bite into the paper collar so that as the holder is retracted the terminal collar is separated from the stack and retained in the holder by the suction at the grippers 37. As the terminal collar is withdrawn from the stack the resilient fingers 18 snap over its rear edge into engagement to the succeeding collar in the stack so as to retain or restrain said collar by these fingers. This has the elfect of permitting a gap to form between the rear edges of these two collars so as to relieve any tendency to form a vacuum between these collars and thereby cause them to adhere to each other.

As the carrier now moves downwardly or to the right, (Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive), the cam roller 47 reverses its former movement. As it'drops back into the slot 49, the arm 46 and thereby the sector 44 are moved in the reversed direction so as to turn the holder down again to its normal or delivery position. As this movement is completed an arm 58 on the valve 41, (see Fig. 10), engages an adjustable stop screw 59. This causes the valve 41 to open thereby admitting air to the inlet 40 relieving the suction at the grippers 37. This releases the hold of the holder on the collar 17 and permits it to drop over the neck of a bottle which has previously been pushed therebeneath. The return movement of the carrier 28 is cushioned by the action of a piston 60 on the end of a rod 61 fixed to the carrier. This piston slides in a dash pot 62 provided with an adjustable opening 63 for the escape of air.

In order that the collars shall be deposited accurately upon the bottles the operation of the above described mechanism must be timed in accordance with the movement of the bottles. The mechanism for accomplishing this purpose will now be described. Journaled in a bracket or brackets 64 suspended from the rails l of the bottle conveyor is a shaft 65.

Fixed to the shaft 65 is a sprocket 66 engag- 1 ing teeth 67 onthe underside of the conveyor belt 2. The movement of the belt 2, therefore, turns the sprocket 66 to rotate the shaft 65. Mounted on the end of the shaft 65 is a slip clutch 68 of any suitable design. This clutch is so designed as to exert a certain maximum driving effect. TWhen the load on the clutch becomes greater than this maximum the clutch slips. The clutch 68 carries a sprocket 69 connected by a chain 70 to drive a sprocket 71 on a shaft 72 mounted in suitable journals on the rails 1. (See Figs. 1, 4 and 5.) The shaft 72 carries a cam 73 cooperating with a cam roller 74 on a slide 75 arranged to slide forward and backwards on rails 76 mounted on the lower portion of the frame 4. A spring 77 exerts a yielding tension on the slide 7 5 so as to keep the same in engagement with the cam 73. This mechanism is duplicated on the other side of the machineas will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5. As the cam 78 rotates inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l the slide 75 is radually moved to the right,Fig-. l, until Just rafter the position shown inV Fig. l when the roller 7 4 vis released by the cam and the kslide 75 executes a quick return movement.

' Each slide 75 has pivoted thereto at 78,

' normal direction of movement.

sions of the cam 73 are such that each stroke (see Fig. J4), an arm 79. This arm is tensioned by a spring 80 tending to move it in al counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4i Its movement is limitedl by 'the engage-V ,ment of a stop screw 81 thereon with a stop y 82. The arm 7 9 is, therefore, normally held of the slide-75 will move av bottle forward a distance equal to the diameter of they bottle.

' At the completion ofthis .forward feeding I movement the slides'75 snap back under the action of the springs 77. l During this return movement the arms 7 9r yieldwhen they engage the succeeding bottle so as to ,pass

around the same and they then snap backy to y their normal position behind the succeeding l bottle under the .action of the springs 89,. Fig. 4 shows in dotted lines the'positions of apair of varms 79 passing aroundabottle in this manner.

v It will be seen therefore,thatthis mechanism provide meansV for positively feeding the bttles thru the machine so" as notl to' depend simplyupon movement ofthe conveyor 2 to carry the bottles along.V Pivoted on a vertical stud83 on yeach of the frame members 4 is an arm' 84 which extends inwardly to a position to be engaged by a bottle as it passes thru the machine. The

lsame stud 83 carries an arm 85 which is connected by a link 86 with an arm l87 pivoted at 88 on the frame 4 and extending upwardly therefrom. Y Aspring 89 connects the link 86 with a point onthe forward edge of the frame 4.as shown in Fig. l so as to urge the arm 87 to the right thereby swinging the arm L84 into the path of a bottle. Pivoted at 90 to the upper endof thegarm'87 is a short section v91 having a slot 92 .engaging the shaft 30. rl`he section 91 has an outstanding arm f 98 tensioned by a spring 94 so as to hold the section 91 against a-stop so Vpositioned las t0 yieldingly maintain said section in prolongation ofthe arm 87. V

As a bottleis fed forwardly along the ycon- Y i veyor by the arms 79, theA bottle just ahead vof it is forced past the arms 84. .As the bottle passes the arms 84 it swings these arms outvwardlyimtil they pass over the largest diam'- eter of the bottle after which they snap back to their original position. During this movemeiitthe arms swing the`.-links 86andf-v thereby the arms 87 tothe left, (Fig. l).

This movement ofl thev arm 87 forces the carrier 28 to the left, (Fig. l) therebyk carrying* the. article holder `upto the stack totake a collar therefrom, after 'which the arms'87 ksnap back again to return the carrier vandy deposit the collar on the bottle aspre'viously described. l VThe yprovision of the spring 94 Y permits'flexing of the section 91 relative to ingly against thestackofcollars, this pressure being restrained'by the-stop 22 aspreviously described. Y,

A latch'95 pivoted at 96 onf the framel 4has a dog97 arranged so that thecarrierl may be moved up to its taking position-after which the latch is turnedonits pivot to engage the the arm 87 so that the holder is pressed yielddog 97 behind the end of tlierod 27 fin order i Y l to `hold .the carrier lin this position. This throws the machine out of `action so.` that bottles may be passed thru without having the collarsdeposited thereon.

ltv will be seen therefore,.-

provided which may be applied. to vany ina- `chine for handling productelements, such as `bottles or the like. The mechanism isarlconveyor which carries the bottles. A posi- Vtive feed ofthe bottles is provided .sov that j y l that. this inven tion accomplishes its objects; A machine is ranged to be Yactuated by the movementl ofthe v i in vcase'the bottles arrive irregularly-.having gapes between the movement of thebottles will be timed in'accordancewithsuch movement. F urthermore, theVV collar handling mechanism ris actuated by a bottle which is` 1i'oo` passing the collar handling mechanisinwill n *Y Y' be positive and the-action vofthe.mechanismv n being fed.` Accordingly, when a gapoccurs Y in the line ofbottles .the mechanismY is not actuated so that thereis no tendency't'o feed a collar even when there' is no bottleto' v Y l .110

receive it. Y

y The collar holding devices are operated by suction so that a firm vhold is maintained on the collar which may'lbe instantly released Y at the proper time to` drop the collars.V lhe collar feeding mechanism issuch that only one collar is fed at' atime, theothers being positively but yieldingly restrained. Aposi-r I tive feedingof the collars by gravity is maintained by the weight of element 2l so that 120.

they feed continues in a normal manner even when only a few collars remain in theV stack which would normally be too light to feed positively by vtheir own weight. The feeding mechanism is so arrangedy that a new `stack-is easily and .quickly insertedin the machine.

Thef mechanical movements areall Vsimple",

andthe arrangementof parts nis suchy .that

the entire lmachineis simple to `manufacture.` While the machinek has vbeendescribed as n va unitary device' it will beunderstoodthat certain individual features or sub-combinations thereof, may be useful of themselves without reference to other features or the rest of the combination. It is understood that the employment of such individual features and sub-combinations is contemplated by this invention and is within the scope of the appended claims.

It is further obvious that various changes may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the speciiic details shown and/or described. n

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine ofthe character described, means for supporting and feeding a stack of collars, a holder engageable with a peripheral portion of the terminal collar of the stack, and suction means for securing the collar to said holder.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting and feeding a stack of collars, a holder engageable with a peripheral portion of the terminal collar of the stack, suction means for securing the article to said holder and means actuated by movement of said holder adapted to drop the collar.

3. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting` and feeding a stack of articles in nested relation, a holder engageable with the terminal article of the stack, suction means for securing the article to said holder, and means for releasing the terminal article from the stack.

l. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting` and feeding a stack of articles in nested relation, a holder engageable with the terminal article of the stack, suction means for securing the article to said holder, a claw on said holder, and means for operating said claw to grip the terminal article to remove it from the stack.

5. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting` and feeding a stack of articles in nested relation, a holder engageable with the terminal article of the stack, suction means for securing the article to said holder, a claw on said holder, means for operating said claw to grip the terminal article to remove it from the stack, and means for releasing said securing means.

6. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting and feeding a stack of articles, a holder having a iieXible gripper engageable with the terminal article of the stack, and suction means for securing the article to said gripper.

7. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting and feeding a stack of articles in nested relation, a holder engageable with the terminal article of the stack, suction means for securing the article to said holder, means for releasing the terminal article from the stack, and means for moving said holder to carry the article away from the stack.

8. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting and feeding a stack of articles in nested relation, a holder engageable with the terminal article of the stack, suction means for securing the article to said holder, means acting during a predetermined movement of said holder to release the terminal article from the stack, and means for moving said holder to carry the article away from the stack.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, means for holding a stack of collars, means for feeding a product element, and means actuated in timed relation with said feeding means adapted to take a collar from the stack and drop the same on the product element.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, means for holding a stack of articles, means for feeding a product element, andi means mounted above and actuated in timed relation with said feeding means adapted t0 take an article from the stack and drop the same upon the product element.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, means for holding a stack of conical articles, means for feeding a bottle, and means actuated in timed relation with said feeding means adapted to take an article from the stack and deposit the same upon the neck of the bottle.

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, means for holding a stack of collars, means for feeding a bottle, and means actuated by movement of an element being fed adapted to take a collar from the stack and drop the same on the neck of the bottle.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, means for holding a stack of conical articles, means for feeding a bottle, and means actuated by the moving bottle adapted to take an article from the stack and deposit the same upon the neck of the bottle.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, means for holding a stack of conical articles, means for feeding a bottle, means actuated by the moving bottle adapted to take an article from the stack and deposit the same upon the neck of the bottle, and a slip-clutch drive for said feeding means.

15. In a device for applying collars to bottles, a carrier, means for supporting and guiding' said carrier for reciprocating movement between taking and depositing stations, a collar holder on s aid carrier, means for feeding a bottle, and means actuated by the bottle being fed adapted to position said carrier over a bottle.

16. In a device for applying collars to bottles, a carrier, means for supporting and guiding said carrier for reciprocating movement 6 a Y testati-ci'Y f betweenl taking'and depositing stations, `a

' collar holder on said carrier, means for ,feeding. a b,ottle,'me`ans actuated by the bottle beingpfed adapted to move said carrier, and Y means-for vcushioning thereturn of said car- -1 17,1 In a device for applying collars to bottles, .a carrier, means for ksupporting Y and y guiding said carrier for reciprocating movemf ment between taking and depositing stations,

acollar holder movable on said carrier, means for. vfeeding a bottle, means actuated bythe 'bottle being fed adapted to move said carrier, and means actuated'upon movement of said k15 carrieradapted to move said holder to taking position thereon. l

18; Ina device 'for applying collars to bot- K tles, a carrier, means for supporting and guidingsaid carrier ,for reciprocating movement between taking and depositing stations, a collar holder movable on said carrier, means for feeding a bottle, means actuated by the bottle i being fed adapted to move said carrier, an

arm on said carrier connected with said holder andacan'i ositionedforengagement with y2a 7 b o saidarm and adapted upon movement of. said carrier to cause said arm tomove said holder to taking position on said carrier.- 419. In a device for applying collars to botd tles, a rack for holding a stack of collars adapted for movement of the collars there-` along,fand gravity v'means for feeding the tack along said rackadapted to resist back pressureon the stack. l

' 35 20. In a device for applying `collars to loottles,a rack including an interior guide adapted toreceive 4a stack of collars, means fory supporting said guide vat one end thereof, and means engagingthe stack exteriorly near the l '45 otherendi of said guide adapted to restrainmovement of the stack. i

21.1In a machine of the character described, means. for supporting and feeding a stack .of articles, a holder engageable with .45j the terminal article of the'stacl, means for feeding-a product element, means for moving -said holderto position the article over the product element, and means for actuating said holderto -drop the,l article upon the prod- 50 uct element.

' 22. In aV machiney of the character described, -meansfor supporting and feeding a stack of articles, a holder engageable with the terminal articleiof the stack, means for feedv55,5" inga product element, means for movingsaid vholder toposition and orient the article over the product element, and means for actuating said holder to drop the article upon the prody uct element: -V

50' f In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature this lday of January, i931. o

Images