Container closer
AssigneeUltrablend LLC
InventorsSteven Marshall, Christian Matthew Yungbluth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closer for pressing a lid onto a container includes a presser foot mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of force applying engagement with the lid; an actuator moveable between retracted and extended positions; and a force multiplying assembly disposed in operative relationship intermediate the presser foot and the actuator for multiplying an input force from the actuator to a predetermined maximum lid pressing force at the extended position.
Claims16
A closer for pressing a lid onto a container, comprising:
- (a) a presser foot mounted for movement into and out of force applying engagement with the lid;
- (b) an actuator moveable between retracted and extended positions;
- (c) a force multiplying assembly disposed in operative relationship intermediate the presser foot and the actuator, and adapted to multiply an input force from the actuator to a predetermined maximum lid pressing force at the extended position, wherein the force multiplying assembly includes:
- (i) a stationary mounting block;
- (ii) a lever arm pivotally connected to the mounting block, the lever arm having a first end connected to the actuator and a second end carrying a cam;
- and
- (iii) a cam follower
- (d) a reciprocating shaft connected to the presser foot and adapted to be driven by the actuator;
- and
- (e) an elastic member interconnecting the shaft and the force multiplying assembly such that the lid pressing force is proportional to the displacement of the elastic member;
- and
- wherein the cam follower is disposed between the cam and the elastic member.
In a closer of the type for sealing a cylindrical can which has a raised peripheral can rim disposed at its upper end, and a press-fit lid having a flat center section and an upwardly-extending lid rim, the lid rim sitting below a plane of the can rim in a fully sealed condition, wherein the closer includes an actuator which moves a presser foot into and out of force applying engagement with the lid, the improvement comprising:
- the presser foot having a working face which is sized to engage the lid rim while maintaining a clearance between the presser foot and the can rim;
- a force multiplying assembly that interconnects the presser foot and the actuator for multiplying an input force from the actuator to a predetermined maximum lid pressing force at the extended position, wherein the force multiplying assembly includes;
- (a) a stationary mounting block;
- (b) a lever arm pivotally connected to the mounting block, the lever arm having a first end connected to the actuator and a second end carrying a cam;
- (c) a cam follower disposed between the cam and an elastic member;
- a reciprocating shaft connected to the presser foot and adapted to be driven by the actuator;
- and
- wherein the elastic member interconnecting the shaft and the force multiplying assembly such that the lid pressing force is proportional to the displacement of the elastic member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.