Quick change method and apparatus for filling and capping machines
AssigneeFci
InventorsMichael H. Peronek, Daniel L. Goodell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross section is provided. The bottling machine includes a rotatable star wheel having a plurality of peripheral individual removable neck support assemblies for receiving and moving the containers through the machine. Each of the individual neck support assemblies includes a pocket support for holding the containers and a snap locking mechanism including a piston on the neck support assembly cooperable with a clamp pin on the star wheel for releasably attaching each of the neck support assemblies to the star wheel.
Claims36
A method of replacing neck support assemblies at a station on a bottling maching for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross-section to accommodate different size containers comprising:
- providing a rotatable star wheel means for moving said containers through said machine;
- providing said individual neck support assemblies about the periphery of said star wheel means including first and second neck support assemblies for each said station, each of said plurality of individual neck support assemblies having pocket support means for holding said containers and a star wheel support portion attached to said star wheel means;
- providing piston means on each said neck support assembly for moving between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- providing clamp pin means on said star wheel means for cooperating with said piston means;
- depressing said piston means of said first neck support assembly and lifting said neck support assembly off of said star wheel means;
- providing said second neck support assembly at said station and depressing said piston means;
- lowering said second neck support assembly over said clamp pin means;
- and
- releasing said piston means whereby said piston means engages said clamp pin means to assume said locked position.
A bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross-section comprising:
- a rotatable star wheel means having a plurality of peripheral individual neck support assemblies for receiving and moving said containers through said machine;
- each of said plurality of individual neck support assemblies including a pocket support means for holding said containers and a star wheel support portion attached to said star wheel means;
- said star wheel support portion including snap locking means for releasably attaching each said neck support assembly to said star wheel means, said snap means for releasably attaching including a spring loaded piston cooperable with a hub clamp pin on said star wheel means, said hub clamp pin engaging said piston in an interference fit to maintain said neck support assembly on said star wheel means.
A bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross-section comprising:
- a rotatable star wheel means having a plurality of peripheral individual neck support assemblies for receiving and moving said containers through said machine;
- each of said plurality of individual neck support assemblies including a pocket support means for holding said containers and a star wheel support portion attached to said star wheel means;
- said star wheel support portion including piston means on said neck support assembly cooperable with clamp pin means on said star wheel means for releasably attaching each said neck support assembly to said star wheel means.
A bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross-section comprising:
- a rotatable star wheel means having a plurality of peripheral individual neck support assemblies for receiving and moving said containers through said machine;
- each of said plurality of individual neck support assemblies including a pocket support means for holding said containers and a star wheel support portion attached to said star wheel means;
- said star wheel support portion including snap locking means for releasably attaching each said neck support assembly to said star wheel means said star wheel means including a plurality of studs extending therefrom and said support portion including means for mating with said studs.
An improved connection for a neck support assembly on a bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross-section, said bottling machine including rotatable star wheel means having a plurality of peripheral individual neck support assemblies for receiving and moving said containers through said machine, each of said plurality of individual neck support assemblies including a pocket support means for holding said containers and a star wheel support portion attached to said star wheel means, the improvement comprising:
- said star wheel support portion including snap locking means for releasably attaching each said neck support assembly to said star wheel means, said snap means for releasably attaching including a spring loaded piston cooperable with a hub clamp pin on said star wheel means, said hub clamp pin engaging said piston to maintain said neck support assembly on said star wheel means in a locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.