Device for tightening caps on containers
AssigneeKrones AG
InventorsBruce L Heard, Mark G Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plurality of containers on which untightened threaded caps are deposited are transported in a circular path synchronously with a cap tightening device for each container. The devices have a substantial vertical reciprocable non-rotatable shaft on which a cylindrical member is rotatable and a cylindrical housing is mounted to and is axially adjustable on the member. A spool of magnetic metal is rotatable on the shaft and is adapted for engaging a cap to turn and tighten it. Magnetizable and magnetized elements are arranged with the housing concentrically to the spool. While being transported the housings of the devices engage a stationary driver which turns the housings consecutively so the spools turn by virtue of magnetic coupling between the magnetic elements and the spool.
Claims12
A device for turning threaded caps onto threaded containers to tighten the caps on the containers that are translating with the devices, comprising:
- a plurality of non-rotating shafts adapted for reciprocating axially between upper and lower positions periodically as the shafts translate transversely of the axial movement in phase with respective containers,
- a first member mounted for rotating on each shaft and constrained against moving axially of the shaft,
- a generally cylindrical housing axially adjustably mounted to each first member concentric to the axis of the shaft, said housing defining an annular interior chamber that is concentric to the shaft,
- a hollow magnetizable container cap driving spool mounted to the shaft for rotating on the shaft within said annular chamber and constrained against moving axially relative to the shaft,
- a plurality of axially extending magnets arranged generally in a circle surrounding the spool and magnetically coupled to the spool, and a hysteresis ring being composed of a material that has low magnetic reluctance arranged concentric to the magnets within said chamber,
- a stationary element positioned along the path in which said containers translate for engaging and turning the housing after said spool has been lowered by lowering the shaft and the spool is coupled to a cap, thereby causing the cap to be turned onto the container with a degree of tightness limited by the mutual magnetic attractive force between the ring, the magnets and the spool.
A device for turning threaded caps onto threaded containers to tighten the caps on the containers that are translating with the devices, comprising:
- a plurality of non-rotating shafts adapted for reciprocating axially between upper and lower positions periodically as the shafts translate transversely of the axial movement in phase with respective containers,
- a first member mounted for rotating on each shaft and constrained against moving axially of the shaft,
- a generally cylindrical housing axially adjustably mounted to each first member concentric to the axis of the shaft, said housing defining an annular interior chamber that is concentric to the shaft,
- a hollow magnetizable container cap-driving spool mounted to the shaft for rotating on the shaft within said annular chamber and constrained against moving axially relative to the shaft,
- a plurality of axially extending magnets arranged generally in a circle surrounding the spool and magnetically coupled to the spool, and a hysteresis ring composed of a material that has low magnetic reluctance arranged concentric to the magnets within said chamber,
- a ring gear fastened to the housing concentrically to the shaft,
- a toothed member positioned along the path in which said containers translate such that when the shafts are in said lower position for said spools to become coupled with caps and said devices are translating, the respective ring gears engage said toothed member in succession to turn said housing and said spool to effect tightening the caps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.