US2334224A - Can sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1943. J; E. socKE CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEIEZEDR Jwm a.

AAA m2 ATTORNEYS J. E. SOCKE CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1941 Nov. 16, 1943.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1943. J. E. SOCKE 2,334,224

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. M, 1943. J. E. SOCKE CAN SEALING MACHINE 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 12, 1941 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS N 16, 1943. J. ESQCKE I CAN SEALING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fild Aug. 12, 1941 II/JW/ ATTORNEYS ?atent ecl Nov. 16, 1943' CA'N SEALING 'MACHINE John E. Sooke, Pelham Manor, N. Y., asslgnor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation 01' New Jersey Application August 12, 1941, Serial No. 406,565

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to container or can sealing machines and has particular reference to applying a sealing strip or. tape to a can or container.

In the packaging of certain products it is sometimes desirable .to use slip cover sheet metal cans so that the can may be easily opened and readily closed when the contents are not used at one time. sealed in place by the application of a sealing strip, tape or the likesuch as Cellophane or other similar material.

The instant invention contemplates a machine Such slip covers are sometimes for applying the sealing strip to the cans and I for forming a loose tab on the outer end of the strip so that the latter may be readily removed when it is desired to open the can.

An object therefore of the invention is the pro-,-

vision of acan sealing machine wherein a sealing strip, tape or the like is applied to a slip cover can to form a seal between the can body and its cover to seal the can for storage and shipment.

Another object is the provision of such a can sealing machine wherein a loose tab is formed on an end of the sealing strip so that the latter may be readily removedwhen it is desired to open the can.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment.

thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sealing machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the machine starting mechanism showing the moving parts in different positions, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away, and showing a can in place to be sealed with a tape; I

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged detail side elevation as viewed substantially along a plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 in F144, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 'l-'l in Fig. 6, with parts broken away;

Figs. 8, 9 andIO are enlarged fragmentary 55 schematic views showing various steps of cutting off the tape as it is being wound'on a can and also showing bending it back to form a removing tab;

Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing how the tape is wound in sealing position on a can;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the tape winding wheel used in the machine;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a portion of the outer periphery of the tape winding wheel;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the tape cut-oil knife and tab forming finger used in the machine; and I Fig. 15 is a perspective View of a sheet metal can having a cover sealed in place by tape applied by the machine of the instant invention.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a machine for sealing a sheet metal can A (Fig. 15) having a removable slip cover 3, with a sealing tape C which has one side coated with a suitable 'addisclosed in United States Patent 1,954,568, issued April 10, 1934, to W. J. Kenny on Container.

The tape preferably is of the character known as Cellophane" although other suitable tapes also may be used. l

In the machine the tape C is taken from a supply roll D, (Fig. 11) of such tape and is guided into place onto the cam A by a rotatable horizontally disposed applying or winding wheel E over whicn the tape, passes. A can A to be sealed is placed adjacent the applying wheel and as the wheel rotates it wraps the tape around the can, cuts the tape off at the proper time and folds thecut 01? end of thetape back on itself to provide a loose tab F which may be readily gripped to remove the tape when it is desired to open the can.

A can A to be sealed is placed in the machine manually and is removed from the machine in the same manner after sealing. The can is receii ed in an upright position on a yieldable disc ll (Fig, 4) located in a rotatable table I2, supported on a vertical shaft I3 carried in a bearing 14 formed in a frame I5 which constitutes the main frame of the machine.

The disc II is disposed in a recess l8 in the top of the table l2 and is backed up by compres: sion springs is located in sockets 20 in the table. The disc is retained in place by studs 2| which are fixed in the disc and which extend downcentrally of the springs and through holes 22 in the bottom of the table. These studs carry locknuts 23 on their lower ends to limit the vertical travel of the disc.

The can A is clamped in place on the table I2 by a clamping head 23 having an annular recessed step 23 which engages over the cover B on the can and which locates the can in the head. The head is mounted for rotation on the lower end of a stem 3| carried in a bearing 32 of a sub-frame 33 which is formed on the main frame I and which extends upwardly adjacent the can. A setscrew 33 in the bearing extends into a groove 33 in the stem and thus prevents rotation of the stem.

The upper end of the clamp head stem 3| extends into a recess 4| in the bearing 32 and is surrounded by a compression spring 42. The spring presses upwardly against a collar 43 secured on the end of the stem. The spring thus normally holds the clamp head 28 in raised position and away from the can so that the latter may be placed on and removed from the table I2.

However, when the head is in clamping position on the can, it is held down by an annular cam 45. The cam is formed on a disc 43 which is retained in a seat 41, in the top of the bearing 32, by means of a ring 43 which overlaps the disc and which is bolted to the hearing. The disc is formed with an upright shank 5| which carries an operating handle 52 (see also Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

The cam 45 is formed with a bevel face 55 which normally engages against a bevel face 53 on the collar 43 of the stem 32. Hence when the handle 52 is turned from its normal position in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig. 2, it rotates the cam 45 relative to the collar 43. This cam thereupon rides up onto the collar and depresses the latter and its stem 3| and this moves the head 23 down into clamping position on the can, as shown in Fig. 4. v

The tape applying wheel E is located adjacent the can A to be sealed and is disposed in a horizontal position in a plane which passes through the terminal edge of the can cover B. The wheel is mounted on a vertical shaft 3| (Fig. 4) carried in a bearing 32 in the main frame I5 and in a bearing 33 in the sub-frame 33. t

The wheel E and the table I2 are rotated in unison by an endless drive chain 35 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) The chain operates over a sprocket 33 which is keyed to the lower end of the table shaft I3. From this sprocket the chain extends around an applying wheel sprocket 31 which is keyed to a fixed disc 33 of a slip clutch 33 mounted on the lower end of the applying wheel shaft 3|. The disc 33 frictionally engages against a driving disc 1| which is keyed to the applying wheel shaft. A

compression spring 12 is interposed between the driving disc 1| and a pair of collars 13 on the shaft and maintains the discs 33, 1| in frictional driving engagement.

From the applying wheel shaft sprocket 31, the drive chain 35 extends around a drive sprocket 15 which is mounted on a motor shaft 13 of a driving motor 11. The driving chain 35 also operates over a timing sprocket 3| mounted on a stud 32 secured in a boss 33 depending from the bottom of the main frame I5. This completes the path of travel of the chain.

The machine is started and stopped for each can to be sealed, the machine remaining in operation for only one cycle and automatically stopping at the end of the cycle. Starting of the machine is effected by a one revolution clutch device 3I which is tripped by way of the handle 32 and upon the same stroke that clamps the can in position for sealing.

The clutch device 3| includes a horizontal slide member 32 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) which slides in a slideway 33 located between the handle 32 and the applying wheel shaft 3|. The slideway is formed by gibs 34 bolted to the top of the subframe 33.

The end of the slide 32 nearest the applying wheel shaft 3| is formed with a latch hook 33 which normally engages a pawl 31, as best shown in Fig. 1. This engagement is maintained by a compression spring 33 (Fig. 4) which is disposed in a groove in the bottom of the slide. The spring is interposed between the slide at one end of the groove and a pin 33 which extends up into the groove from the sub-frame 33. The pawl 31 projects from a recess I3I formed in a collar I32 keyed to the upper end of the wheel shaft. The pawl is also mounted on a pivot pin I33 secured in the collar.

The opposite end of the slide 32 carries an operating pin I33 which projects upwardly into the path of travel of an operating finger plate |31 (see also Fig. 5) carried on a pivot stud I33 threaded into a lug I33 on the handle 52. The finger plate is held against a stop ledge III in the lug I33 by a spring barrel 2 in the lug so that the finger can swing in only one direction on its pivot stud.

Hence when the handl 52 is shifted from its position in Fig. 1 to clamp the can-in the machine, the, finger plate I31 engages a side of the operating pin I33 of the slide 32 and thus draws the slide outwardly against the resistance of the spring 33, as shown in Fig. 2. This movement of the slide shifts its latch hook 33 away from the pawl 31 and hence releases it. This permits a compression spring H5 in the collar I32 to press the released pawl forward in its recess I3I where it is out of alignment with the hook 33 on the slide.

Continued movement of the handle 52 in the same direction shifts the finger plate I31 out of engagement with the operating pin I33 in the slide 32 and this permits the spring 33 to return the slide inwardly. .However, this return of the extreme position, operates an electric start switch I2I which controls the'starting of the electric motor actuating the machine. This is brought about by a projection or button I22 on the finger plate pivot stud I33 which engages and shifts a bell crank I23 mounted on a pivot stud I24 secured in the sub-frame 33 adjacent the switch The bell crank I23 normally is maintained in one position under pressure of a compression spring I23 interposed between one of the slide gibs 34 and a lug I21 on the bell crank. A setscrew I23 in one leg of the crank limits the inward travel of crank. while a setscrew I23 in the other leg engages against the movable element of the electric switch I2 I This actuation of the electric switch I2I and the starting of the electric motor 11 rotates the table I2 through the drive chain 35. This carries the can A and turns the shaft 3|, and. its applymg wheel E in unison through one revolution of the wheel. It is during this revolution f the wheel E and this circular travel of the can A, that the latter is sealed by the application of the tape 0, as will be hereinafter explained. The y bearing 63 in the sub-frame 33. One end of the rotation of the wheel shaft revolves the collar I02 and its pawl 91 and when the wheelhas completed it single revolution, the pawl again engages .the latch hook 96 on the slide 92. This v stops the rotation of the applying wheel E and I its shaft 6I.

It will be understood that a conventionalelectrical circuit will be used for maintaining electri-' cal energy in the electric motor 11 until the entire cycle of operation is completed. The handle 52 therefore need be held in the position shown in Fig. '3 only momentarily. The release of .the handle under the action of the spring I26 immediately opens the switch I2I, the handle assuming the position of Fig. 2. Following this the holding circuit provides for the full cycle of operation. L

Simultaneously with the engaging of the pawl 91 and the latch hook 96 on the slide 92, the electric motor 11 stops. This is brought about'by a cam projection I3I on the timing sprocket 8| (Figs. 6 and 7). At the 'completionof a machine cycle this projection engages and lifts a vertically disposed pin I32 carried in a boss I33 on the main frame I5. The upper end of the pin'engages and shifts a rocker plate I35 mounted on a pivot pin I36 carried in a bracket I31 secured to the main frame. The rocker plate engages and presses in a. movable element of an electric stop switch I38 secured to the main frame and it is the operation of this switch that'cuts out the motor and thus stops further actuation of the machine.

Upon the stopping of the machine, the handle 52 is shifted back manually into its original position (Fig. 1), in order to prepare for again start.- ing thenext cycle. In shifting back to this position, the finger plate I01 (Fig. 5) rides over the operating pin I06 of the slide 92 against the resistance of the spring barrel H2. The dotted outline in Fig. 5 of the finger plate. dis.- closes this returning position of the plate. The return shift of the handle also unclamps the can A so that it may be removed from the machine. Sealing of the can A by the tape C, while the machine is in operation, now will be explained. It will be remembered that the tape is unwound from a supply roll D. This supply roll is carried on a reel I4I (Figs. 1 and 11) mounted on a pin I42 disposed in a bearing bracket I43 bolted to a side of the sub-frame 33. A horizontal platform I44 secured to the side of the sub-frame periphery of the wheel is formed with a plurality v of elongated vertical slots I 55 (Figs. '12 and 13) which communicate with radial bores I56. in the wheel. The bores I56 communicate with short vertical holes I51 which open into a main vacuum groove I58 formed in a stationary plate I59 seating against the top of the applying wheel.

The plate I59 is held against rotation with f the wheel by a rod I6I and a pipe I62 (Figs. 4 and 11) which are anchored in the plate and which extend up into bosses I63 formedon a .holdingmember I64 bolted to the bottom of the pipe I62 communicates with the main groove I58 and its opposite end leads from a suitable source or supply of vacuum.

The main vacuumgroove I58 is curved as best shownin Fig. 1.1 and extends substantially halfway around the. plate 36 in which it is formed. The groove begins in line with a place where the where the tape is applied to a wheel as it is drawn off the reel.

The tape thus held on the applying wheel E, is carried around with the wheel toward the can resilient insert "I which is secured in a recess I12 in the wheel and which projects'slightly beyondthe periphery of the wheel. This insert is made preferably of rubber and is formed with holes I13 which communicate with the radially disposed vacuum bores I56 so that the tape will be held in place against the rubber by the vacuum drawn through the bores.

When the wheel E and the can commence rothe rubber insert I1I comes adjacent the can and presses the forward end of the tape Cagainst the can so thatit covers the terminal edge of the cover B. The side of the tape which engages the can is the side that carries the adhesive and hence the tape sticks to the can. As the wheel and the can continue to rotate in unison the tape is wrapped around the can so that it completely encircles it once with a slight lap-over. A pressure roller I15 (Figs. 1 and 11) presses the tape against the can as it is applied and this insures a tighter seal. This roller may be made of soft rubber or other resilient material and will press the tape firmly against the can wall regardless of slight irregularities in the wall surface. In the drawings the body wall isshown as being beaded and the cover is curled. Such a roller is mounted on a pivot pin I16 carried in a bracket I11 secured to the sub-frame 33.

Near the completion of this wrapping of the tape C around the can, the tape is cut while still on the wheel so that just sufficient tape is obtained to peripherally encircle the can. The desired length of tape is measured on the circumference of the wheel which is of the proper diameter to fit the tape to the can being sealed. The cutting is performed adjacent the forward edge of the rubber insert I H and is effected by a cutoff device I8I (Fig. 14) located adjacent the insert.

The cut off device I8I includes a slide I82 (Figs. 4, 8 and 14) which is disposed in a radial slideway I83 formed in the-applying wheel E adjacent the rubber insert Ill. The outer end of the slide carries a radially disposed cut-off knife I85 having a serrated cut-off edge I86. Adjacent the knife the slide carries a tab forming finger I88 having a pair of spaced hinge lugs I89 which straddle a lug I9I in the slide. The finger is mounted on a vertical pivot pin or pintle I92 which extends through the lugs I89, I9I and is tape first engages the wheel and terminates in' tating through a cycle, as hereinbefore explained,

secured in the slide lug I9I. The finger is retained under tension of a spring I94 which is coiled around the pivot pin. One end of the spring is secured in the pin while the opposite end is fastened in the finger so that the finger will tend to move toward the right as viewed in the drawings.

As this cut-off device II is carried around with the wheel, it is maintained in a retracted position within the wheel by a cam roller I96 which is carried on a pin I91 fixed in the bottom of the slide I82. The roller operates in a cam groove I98 of a stationary horizontal face cam I99 disposed directly below the applying wheel and secured to the subframe 33,

Near the completion of a cycle of the rotating wheel and as the cut-off device moves toward the y can being sealed, the cam I99 shifts the slide outwardly, as shown in Fig. 8. This outward movement forces the serrated knife I85 through the tape C and thus cuts it through. The cut-ofl rear end of the tape is still held to the wheel by the vacuum.

The slide I82 continues to move outwardly under the action of the cam I99. The tab forming finger I88 at that time is held against turning through its spring I94, by a pin 28I, which is mounted on and which extend downwardly from the finger, coming into engagement with a stationary edge cam section 282. This edge cam section is formed on the periphery of. the cam its attendantadvantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being I99. Thepin and the cam thus hold the finger against turning while the slide and finger continue to move radially outwardly, This radial movement pushes out the cut-off end of the tape v C, as shown in Fig. 9.

When the slide I82 is fully out, i. e., at the moment it reaches the end of its outwardlyradial movement, the pin 28I passes beyond and abruptly rides oil? the edge cam section 282. This permits the spring I94 to rotate the finger toward the right, as viewed in the drawings, which movement of the finger folds the pushed-out end of the tape rearwardly upon itself against the outer periphery of the wheel as in Fig. 10. This brings the adhesive coated surfaces of the tape into engagement thus producing the tab F which is of sufilcient length to be gripped easily by the fingers.

Immediately following this tab forming operation, continued rotation of the wheel E passes the slide member cam roller I95 along an inwardly moving parts of the machine in the proper position for the commencement of the next sealing operation. This also leaves the tab F adhesively free of and projecting slightly outwardly from the can A. The can is then removed from the machine.

It will be evident, by reference to Fig. 15, that the tab F is in the proper position for convenient manual engagement to pull the tape off the can, when it is desired to open the latter. Thisis done by stripping off the tape which is thus removed as an integral unit. The disengaged slip cover B may thenbe opened as in the instance of the usual slip closure can of the nature illustrated.

It is thought that the invention and many of merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

-I claim:

1. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, an applying wheel adjacent the container and carrying a tape to be applied to the container, instrumentalities on said wheel for cutting off a predetermined length of the tape, and devices for rotating said wheel in time with said means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container. I 2. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating 9. container, an applying wheel adjacent the container and carrying a tape to be applied to the container, elements on said wheel for forming a tab on the tail end of said tape, and devices for rotating said wheel in time with said means so 2 that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container.

3. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, devices adjacent said container for applying a tape thereto while it rotates, and elements for forming atab on the tail end of the tape so that the tape may be readily removed from the container when desired.

4. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a ting through the tape carried on the wheel to set off a predetermined length thereof, and devices for rotating said wheel in time with said means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container.

5. In a machine for applying a tape to a con-- tainer, the combination of means for rotating a container, an applying wheel adjacent the container and carrying on its periphery a tape.to be applied. to the container, a radial slide in said wheel, a cam for actuating said slide in timed relation with the wheel, a knife on said slide for cutting the tape so that a predetermined length, -will be applied to the container, a spring held finger on said slide for turning back on itself the tail end of the cut-off tape to provide a loose tab for removing the tape from the container when desired, and devices for rotating said wheel in time with said means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container.

6. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, a clamp head for clamping the container in position on said rotating means, an

strumentalities simultaneously to set said container rotating means and said wheel in motion.

7. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, an applying wheel disposed adjacent the container and carrying a strip of tape to be applied to the container, means for supp y ng said tape strip to said wheel devices for rotating said wheel in time with said rotating means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container and means carried by said wheel for severing a length of tape during its transfer from said wheel to said container.

8. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacent the container and having a plurality of openings in its periphery connecting with passageways leading from a source of vacuum for retaining on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container, devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotating means so that the tapewill be transferred from the wheel to the container, and means carried by said tape applying wheel for severing a length of tape therefrom during application of the tape to said container.

9. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacent the container and having a plurality of openings in its periphery connecting with passageways leading from a source of vacuum for retaining on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container, valv means disposed between said passageways and the source of vacuum for cutting off the vacuum from the passageways as they come into position adjacent the container to free the tape from the wheel, devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotating means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container, and means carried by said tape applying wheel for severing a 10. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, a tape applying'wheel disposed adjacent the container and carrying on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container, means on said wheel for bringing an end of said tape into engagement with the container, devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotating means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container, and means carried by said tape applying wheel for severing a length of tape therefrom during such transfer length of tape therefrom during such transfer,

and application of the tape to said container.

11. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacent the container and carrying on its periphery a tape to be applied to the container, a resilient insert in the periphery of the wheel for pressing the forward end, of the tape against the container, devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotating means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container, and

means carried by said tape applying wheel for severing a length of tape therefrom during such transfer and application of the tape to said container.

12. In a machine for applying a tape to a container, the combination of means for rotating a container, a tape applying wheel disposed adjacent the container and carrying a tape to be applied to the container, devices for rotating said wheel in time with said container rotating means so that the tape will be transferred from the wheel to the container, a one revolution clutch for controlling the rotation of said applying wheel for a single tape applying cycle, and cutting means carried by said applying wheel for severing a length of tape therefrom during such transfer and application of the tape to said container, wherebya predetermined length of tape is applied to said container.

JOHN E. SOCKE.

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