US 5,768,767 A · Automatic handle applicator

Abstract

A handle applicator for applying a handle having an attachment ring onto a neck of a container by expanding the ring as the ring is being applied. The applicator includes a plurality of circumferentially positioned arms each having a distal end. The arms are moveable between a radially outward first position and a radially inward second position. In the second position, the arms generally define a diameter over which the ring can be positioned onto the arms. The arms also each include a ramp surface and these surfaces cooperate to define a frusto-conical shape when the arms are in the first position. The applicator also includes a plurality of fingers that are generally located radially outward from the arms and which are being biased such that arm contacting portions of the fingers contact the arms. The fingers are movable toward and away from the distal ends of the arms so that the arm contacting portions will engage and push a ring located on the arms up the ramp surfaces. This expands the ring and further pushing by the fingers causes the ring to be pushed off of the arms allowing the ring to contract into retaining engagement onto the neck of the container.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A handle applicator for applying a handle having an attachment ring onto a neck of a container by expanding the ring as the ring is being applied, said applicator comprising:

a plurality of circumferentially positioned arms each having a distal end, said arms being moveable between a radially outward first position and a radially inward second position, in said second position said arms generally defining a reduced diameter relative to said first position to enable a ring to be positioned about said arms and over said distal end, said arms including ramp surfaces cooperating to define a frusto-conical shape when said arms are in said first position;
a plurality of fingers generally located radially outward from said arms, said fingers being biased toward said arms, said fingers being radially and axially moveable between first and second finger positions, said fingers being located away from said distal ends of said arms when in said first finger position, said fingers being located adjacent to said distal ends of said arms when in said second finger position;
a main body supporting said arms and said fingers;
and
whereby with said arms in said first position said fingers engage and push a ring on said arms up said ramp surfaces thereby expanding the ring and further pushing the ring over and off of said distal ends of said arms such that the ring contracts into retaining engagement onto the neck of the container.

2 more elements

An applicator apparatus for applying a handle onto a container by expanding an attachment ring of the handle as the ring is being applied over a neck of the container, said apparatus comprising:

at least one handle driver including a plurality of circumferentially positioned arms each having a distal end, said arms being moveable between a radially outward first position and a radially inward second position, in said second position said arms generally defining a reduced diameter relative to said first position and over which the ring can be positioned onto said arms, said arms including ramp surfaces cooperating define a frusto-conical shape when said arms are in said first position;
a plurality of fingers generally located radially outward from said arms and being biased toward said arms, said fingers being moveable between a first finger position located away from said distal end of said arms and a second finger position located generally adjacent to said distal end of said arms, said first finger position being radially inward of said second finger position;
a main body supporting said arms and said fingers;
carrier means having said driver mounted thereto, said carrier means for moving said driver between a loading position where handles are loaded onto said driver and an applying position where handles are applied to containers;
a loading station including loading means for loading the handle onto said driver over said distal ends of said arms when said driver is in said loading position;
handle conveyor means for transporting handles from a handle source to said loading station;
an applying station where handles are applied to container by said driver, said arms being in said first position at said applying station and said fingers moving from said first finger position to said second finger position thereby pushing a ring located about said arms up said ramp surfaces to expand the ring and push the ring off of said distal ends of said arms wherein the ring contracts into retained engagement onto the neck of the container;
and
container conveyor means for transporting containers from a container source to said applying station.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic handle applicator

Life of this patent

Automatic handle applicator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29