Three-dimensional seal applicator
AssigneeStoffel Seals Corporation
InventorsCharles Fuehrer, Erwin Ruegg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An applicator for applying surface relief three-dimensional seals or medallions to containers which includes a rotatable transfer ring having a plurality of seal retaining receivers therein formed therein in which plungers are reciprocally mounted. A vaccuum header is associated with the ring so as to create reduced pressure in the receivers for removing seals from a carrier tape and retaining the seals within the receivers as the transfer ring is indexed to align the seals with containers being conveyed relative to the applicator. An activator is provided for urging the plungers from the receivers to thereby apply the seals retained therein against aligned containers.
Claims20
An applicator for transferring and applying three-dimensional seals which are carried in spaced relationship on a carrier tape to containers being conveyed relative to the applicator, the applicator comprising:
- a transfer ring having a rear wall and a front wall and an annular peripheral wall,
- means for mounting said transfer ring to a first indexing device for rotating said transfer ring,
- said transfer ring including a plurality of spaced receivers recessed in said peripheral wall of a size to at least partially contain a three-dimensional seal therein,
- a plunger means reciprocally mounted within each of said receivers and moveable from a first position inwardly of each of said receivers to a second position extending outwardly of said peripheral wall,
- a vaccuum means associated with said transfer ring for applying a reduced pressure in said receivers when said receivers are positioned adjacent a seal transfer point wherein seals are removed from the carrier tape to a seal application point wherein seals are transferred to a container,
- an activator means mounted within said transfer ring adjacent said application point, said activator means being engagable with a plunger means within an aligned receiver at the transfer point for urging said plunger means outwardly of said aligned receiver to thereby force a seal contained therein into contact with an aligned container,
- guide means mounted adjacent said transfer ring at the transfer point for guiding the carrier strip relative to the transfer ring, and
- means for conveying the carrier tape along said guide means so as to continuously align seals on the carrier tape with said receivers of said transfer ring.
An applicator for transferring and applying three-dimensional seals which are supplied thereto from a source of supply to containers being conveyed relative to the applicator, the applicator comprising:
- a transfer ring having a rear wall and a front wall and an annular peripheral wall,
- means for mounting said transfer ring to a first indexing device for rotating said transfer ring,
- said transfer ring including a plurality of spaced receivers recessed in said peripheral wall of a size to at least partially contain a three-dimensional seal therein,
- a plunger means reciprocally mounted within each of said receivers and moveable from a first position inwardly of each of said receivers to a second position extending outwardly of said peripheral wall,
- a vaccuum means associated with said transfer ring for applying a reduced pressure in said receivers when said receivers are positioned adjacent a seal transfer point wherein seals are removed from a source of supply to a seal application point wherein seals are transferred to a container,
- an activator means mounted within said transfer ring adjacent said application point, said activator means being engagable with a plunger means within an aligned receiver at the transfer point for urging said plunger means outwardly of said aligned receiver to thereby force a seal contained therein into contact with an aligned container, and
- guide means mounted adjacent said transfer ring at the transfer point for guiding the seals from said source of supply to the transfer ring.
An applicator for transferring and applying three-dimensional seals having varying surface configurations which are carried in spaced relationship on a carrier tape to containers being conveyed relative to the applicator, the seals having a maximum outer dimension, the applicator comprising:
- a transfer ring having a rear wall and a front wall and an annular peripheral wall,
- means for mounting said transfer ring to a first indexing device for rotating said transfer ring,
- said transfer ring including a plurality of spaced receivers recessed in said peripheral wall of a size to cooperatively contain a three-dimensional seal therein, each of said receivers having a maximum outer dimension slightly greater than the maximum dimension of the seals,
- a plunger means reciprocally mounted within each of said receivers and moveable from a first position inwardly of each of said receivers to a second position extending outwardly of said peripheral wall,
- a vaccuum means associated with said transfer ring for applying a reduced pressure in said receivers when said receivers are positioned adjacent a seal transfer point wherein seals are removed from the carrier tape to a seal application point wherein seals are transferred to a container,
- an activator means mounted within said transfer ring adjacent said application point, said activator means being engagable with a plunger means within an aligned receiver at the transfer point for urging said plunger means outwardly of said aligned receiver to thereby force a seal contained therein into contact with an aligned container,
- guide means mounted adjacent said transfer ring at the transfer point for guiding the carrier strip relative to the transfer ring, and
- means for conveying the carrier tape along said guide means so as to continuously align seals on the carrier tape with said receivers of said transfer ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.