Machine for marking the exterior cylindrical surfaces of cans in a continous nonidexing manner

Claim 2

A machine for continuously applying marking means on cylindrical containers comprising a continuously rotatable cradle-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of cradles about its outer periphery with each of said cradles having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional configuration and each being adapted to receive an associated container, a precision infeed for placing each of said containers on an associated cradle, said infeed comprising, a screw conveyor for carrying sAid containers toward said cradle-supporting wheel and a pickoff star wheel for engaging and moving each container as it is discharged from said screw conveyor and depositing it on an associated cradle of said cradle-supporting wheel, said star wheel having a plurality of pockets each having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional configuration and each being adapted to hold an associated container in a nonjostling manner until it is positively deposited on its associated cradle to minimize any tendency of said container to be unstable in its cradle, an arcuate guide at the lower end of said screw conveyor, said star wheel and arcuate guide cooperating after each container is received from said screw conveyor into an associated pocket to provide controlled sliding movement of the container relative to said guide and its associated star wheel pocket to assure a smooth positive transfer of each container into an associated cradle of said machine, said arcuate guide having a lower end positioned to enable accurate pickup of each container by an associated cradle, a pair of closely controlled vertical guides adapted to engage and axially align said containers within predetermined limits as they are conveyed by said screw conveyor, each of said vertical guides providing essentially a line contact at each end of said containers which imposes minimum drag on said containers during sliding movement thereof along said vertical guides, a continuously rotatable mandrel-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of mandrels about its outer periphery and being arranged adjacent said cradle-supporting wheel and operatively associating therewith to receive each container in telescoped relation over an associated mandrel to enable the subsequent application of marking means thereon, and a fixed cam plate adapted to engage one end of each container and start axial movement thereof along its supporting cradle and toward an associated mandrel to enable subsequent easier telescoping thereof over an associated mandrel.

Claim 3

A machine for continuously applying marking means on cylindrical containers comprising, a continuously rotatable cradle-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of cradles about its outer periphery with each of said cradles being adapted to receive an associated container from an infeed for said machine, a continuously rotatable mandrel-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of mandrels about its outer periphery and being arranged adjacent said cradle-supporting wheel and operatively associating therewith to receive each container in telescoped relation over an associated mandrel, a pickoff apparatus for moving said containers away from said machine, said pickoff apparatus comprising, an endless conveyor, a plurality of vacuum devices fastened along said endless conveyor in spaced apart relation with each vacuum device being adapted to be operatively connected to a vacuum source, a support supported alongside said cradle-supporting wheel and having a noncircular fixed track for supporting and guiding said endless conveyor and said vacuum devices for movement thereon in an endless noncircular path defined by said noncircular track, said track having one arcuate track section corresponding to one portion of an arcuate path traveled by said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers, said one arcuate track section supporting said vacuum devices in axially spaced apart relation from said mandrels, and a drive for moving said endless conveyor and hence said vacuum devices on said track and said one fixed arcuate track section at the same speed as the speed of said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers along said one portion of said arcuate path and so that each vacuum device travels in said arcuate path substantially in axial alignment with an associated mandrel and container over the full length of said one portion of said arcuate path, said supporting of said support and hence said track alongside said cradle-supporting wheel assuring each movement of said vacuum deVices in the required manner using a comparatively simple mechanism, and upon applying a vacuum upon each device the axial alignment of each device over said full length assures positive removal of the associated container from its supporting mandrel.

Claim 4

A machine for continuously applying marking means on cylindrical containers comprising, a continuously rotatable cradle-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of cradles about its outer periphery with each of said cradles being adapted to receive an associated container from an infeed for said machine, a continuously rotatable mandrel-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of mandrels about its outer periphery and being arranged adjacent said cradle-supporting wheel and operatively associating therewith to receive each container in telescoped relation over an associated mandrel, a pickoff apparatus for moving said containers away from said machine, said pickoff apparatus comprising, an endless conveyor, a plurality of vacuum devices fastened along said endless conveyor in spaced apart relation with each vacuum device being adapted to be operatively connected to a vacuum source, a support supported alongside said cradle-supporting wheel and having a noncircular fixed track for supporting and guiding said endless conveyor and said vacuum devices for movement thereon in an endless noncircular path defined by said noncircular track, said track having one arcuate track section corresponding to one portion of an arcuate path traveled by said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers, said one arcuate track section supporting said vacuum devices in axially spaced apart relation from said mandrels, and a drive for moving said endless conveyor and hence said vacuum devices on said track and said one fixed arcuate track section at the same speed as the speed of said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers along said one portion of said arcuate path and so that each vacuum device travels in said arcuate path substantially in axial alignment with an associated mandrel and container over the full length of said one portion of said arcuate path, said supporting of said support and hence said track alongside said cradle-supporting wheel assuring each movement of said vacuum deVices in the required manner using a comparatively simple mechanism, and upon applying a vacuum upon each device the axial alignment of each device over said full length assures positive removal of the associated container from its supporting mandrel.

Claim 5

A machine as set forth in claim 2 in which said one arcuate track section is also arranged in an inclined manner so that it extends at an angle with respect to a vertical plane in which the terminal ends of said mandrels are normally rotating and as each vacuum device moves around said one arcuate track section it together with its associated container adhered thereagainst moves along said inclined section and progressively away from said mandrel-supporting wheel.

Claim 6

A machine as set forth in claim 3 in which the arcuate length of said one arcuate track section is greater than the circumferential distance between an immediately adjacent pair of mandrels to assure movement of each container in aligned relation opposite an associated vacuum device for a sufficient distance to assure positive removal of each container by such vacuum device.

Claim 7

A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said endless conveyor comprises a chain conveyor.

Claim 8

A machine as set forth in claim 5 in which said track has an inclined track section arranged downstream of said one track section, said downstream track section being inclined in a direction toward another conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced apart container supporting pins with each pin being adapted to receive an associated container in telescoped relation thereover for carrying thereof away from said machine.

Claim 9

A machine as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a fluid pressure source operatively connected to said vacuum devices whereby upon placing a particular container in telescoped relation over an associated pin the vacuum holding the particular container is shut off and fluid pressure is applied to provide a positive release of the particular container onto said pin.

Claim 10

A machine for continuously applying marking means on cylindrical containers comprising, a continuously rotatable cradle-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of cradles about its outer periphery with each of said cradles being adapted to receive an associated container from an infeed for said machine, a continuously rotatable mandrel-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of mandrels about its outer periphery and being arranged adjacent said cradle-supporting wheel and operatively associating therewith to receive each container in telescoped relation over an associated mandrel, a pickoff apparatus for moving said containers away from said machine, said pickoff apparatus comprising, a plurality of vacuum devices fastened together in spaced apart relation and adapted to be operatively connected to a vacuum source, a support having a track for supporting and guiding said vacuum devices, said track having one arcuate track section corresponding to one portion of an arcuate path traveled by said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers, said one arcuate track section supporting said vacuum devices in axially spaced-apart relation from said mandrels, a drive for moving said vacuum devices along said one arcuate track section at the same speed as the speed of said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers along said one portion of said arcuate path and so that each vacuum device travels substantially in axial alignment with an associated mandrel and container over the full length of said one portion of said arcuate path, and upon applying a vacuum upon each device the axial alignment of each device over said full length assures positive removal of the associated container from its supporting mandrel, said one arcuate track section being arranged in an inclined manner so that it extends at an angle with respect to a vertical plane in which the terminal ends of said mandrels are normally rotating and as each vacuum device moves around said one arcuate track section it togetheR with its associated container adhered thereagainst moves along said inclined section and progressively away from said mandrel-supporting wheel, said track having another arcuate track section arranged downstream of said one track section, said other arcuate track section being substantially identical to said one arcuate track section and facing in an opposite direction therefrom and said pickoff apparatus further comprising another continuous chain conveyor having a plurality of container-supporting pins fastened to said other conveyor in spaced apart relation corresponding to the arcuate spacing between a pair of immediately adjacent vacuum devices, a sprocket wheel for moving and guiding said other chain conveyor and its pins, said sprocket wheel having an effective diameter corresponding to the effective diameter of said mandrel-supporting wheel so that as said other continuous chain conveyor is moved by said sprocket wheel therearound said pins move in an arcuate path corresponding to said other arcuate track section causing each container as it is moved by its associated vacuum device along said other arcuate track section to be aligned with an oppositely arranged pin, and upon disconnecting the vacuum to a particular vacuum device with the associated container arranged opposite its associated pin a compression spring provided as an integral part of the vacuum device and held compressed by said vacuum is released and causes the associated container to be propelled toward and telescoped over its associated pin.

Claim 11

A machine for continuously applying marking means on cylindrical containers comprising, a continuously rotatable cradle-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of cradles about its outer periphery with each of said cradles being adapted to receive an associated container from an infeed for said machine, a continuously rotatable mandrel-supporting wheel carrying a plurality of mandrels about its outer periphery and being arranged adjacent said cradle-supporting wheel and operatively associating therewith to receive each container in telescoped relation over an associated mandrel, a pickoff apparatus for moving said containers away from said machine, said pickoff apparatus comprising, a plurality of vacuum devices fastened together in spaced apart relation and adapted to be operatively connected to a vacuum source, a support having a track for supporting and guiding said vacuum devices, said track having one arcuate track section corresponding to one portion of an arcuate path traveled by said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers, said one arcuate track section supporting said vacuum devices in axially spaced-apart relation from said mandrels, a drive for moving said vacuum devices along said one arcuate track section at the same speed as the speed of said mandrels and their associated telescoped containers along said one portion of said arcuate path and so that each vacuum device travels substantially in axial alignment with an associated mandrel and container over the full length of said one portion of said arcuate path, and upon applying a vacuum upon each device the axial alignment of each device over said full length assures positive removal of the associated container from its supporting mandrel, said one arcuate track section being arranged in an inclined manner so that it extends at an angle with respect to a vertical plane in which the terminal ends of said mandrels are normally rotating and as each vacuum device moves around said one arcuate track section it togetheR with its associated container adhered thereagainst moves along said inclined section and progressively away from said mandrel-supporting wheel, said track having another arcuate track section arranged downstream of said one track section, said other arcuate track section being substantially identical to said one arcuate track section and facing in an opposite direction therefrom and said pickoff apparatus further comprising another continuous chain conveyor having a plurality of container-supporting pins fastened to said other conveyor in spaced apart relation corresponding to the arcuate spacing between a pair of immediately adjacent vacuum devices, a sprocket wheel for moving and guiding said other chain conveyor and its pins, said sprocket wheel having an effective diameter corresponding to the effective diameter of said mandrel-supporting wheel so that as said other continuous chain conveyor is moved by said sprocket wheel therearound said pins move in an arcuate path corresponding to said other arcuate track section causing each container as it is moved by its associated vacuum device along said other arcuate track section to be aligned with an oppositely arranged pin, and upon disconnecting the vacuum to a particular vacuum device with the associated container arranged opposite its associated pin a compression spring provided as an integral part of the vacuum device and held compressed by said vacuum is released and causes the associated container to be propelled toward and telescoped over its associated pin.

Claim 12

A machine as set forth in claim 8 in which said downstream track section is inclined in a direction toward the plane of said sprocket wheel and hence toward said pins, said inclined downstream track section enabling each container to be effectively deposited in telescoped relation over its associated pin.

Claim 13

A machine as set forth in claim 9 in which said track has a peripheral outline of a figure 8 thereby enabling the provision of said arcuate sections within a comparatively small space.

Claim 14

A machine as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a fluid pressure source operatively connected to said vacuum devices whereby upon placing a particular container in telescoped relation over an associated pin the vacuum holding the particular container is shut off and fluid pressure is applied to provide a positive release of the particular container onto said pin.

Claim 15

A machine as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said pins has a comparatively larger knoblike portion at its terminal end which causes each container received thereon to be inclined toward the base of the particular pin to assure the container remains on the pin.

Claim 16

A machine as set forth in claim 9 in which said track is formed in said support as an integral part thereof.

Claim 17

A machine as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said vacuum devices has a pair of cooperating rollers fastened thereto and adapted to engage opposite sides of said track to guide the associated vacuum device therealong.

Claim 18

A machine as set forth in claim 8 in which said infeed comprises a screw conveyor for carrying said containers toward said cradle-supporting wheel and pickoff star wheel for engaging and moving each container as it is discharged from said screw conveyor and depositing it on an associated cradle of said cradle-supporting wheel, said star wheel assuring rapid and positive placement of each container on its associated cradle to minimize any tendency of said container to be unstable in its cradle.

Claim 19

A machine as set forth in claim 15 in which said screw conveyor is arranged in a substantially upright manner and conveys containers from its upper end to its lower end and further comprising a downwardly inclined supply chute for supplying containers to the upper end of said screw conveyor, said containers being urged toward said screw conveyor by gravity.

Claim 20

A machine as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising a pair of vertical guides, said vertical guides being adapted to engage and axially align said containers as they are conveyed by said screw conveyor.

Claim 21

A machine as set forth in claim 16 in which said infeed star wheel is made of an antifriction material, and further comprising an arcuate guide at the lower end of said screw conveyor which is also made of an antifriction material and after each container is received from said screw conveyor into a pocket of said star wheel said container may easily move relative to said guide and star wheel pocket to assure a smooth transfer of an associated container toward an associated cradle of said machine, said arcuate guide having a lower end positioned to enable accurate pickup of each container by an associated cradle.

Claim 22

A machine as set forth in claim 18 and further comprising a cam plate adapted to engage one end of each container and start axial movement thereof along its supporting cradle and toward its associated mandrel to enable subsequent easier telescoping movement thereof over an associated mandrel.