Cap tester

Claim 2

Apparatus for testing thickness of gaskets on caps comprising a cell for receiving the cap whereby the cap divides said cell into first and second sections; supply means of pressurized gas; means for injecting the gas into said first section; first valve means interposed between said supply means and said first section to control gas injection; means for venting the gas from said first section; second separate valve means connected to said second section; first sensing means communicable through said second valve means to detect pressure build-up due to gas leakage through the gasket into said second section; second sensing means mounted on said cell fOr detecting thickness of the gasket exceeding a predetermined maximum and, sorting means responsive to said first and said second sensing means for ejecting caps with gaskets having a thickness outside predetermined minimum and maximum.

Claim 3

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sorting means includes a recording means operatively associated with said sensing means to record leaks in the cap, and means responsive to said recording means for ejecting leaky caps.

Claim 4

Apparatus for testing thickness of gaskets on caps comprising a plurality of cells mounted on a common support; means for rotating said cells through a series of stations whereby a cap is fed into the open cell, the cell is closed, pressurized gas is admitted to test if thickness of the gasket is within a predetermined, range, the cap is expelled from said apparatus and sorted; cam track means in associated with said apparatus for closing each cell in succession after a cap has been positioned within a cell and for opening each cell in succession after testing of the gasket has been completed prior to expulsion of the cap from a cell; means for feeding caps into said cells; means for successively injecting pressurized gas into each cell; first valve means interposed in said injection means to control injection of gas conduit means for conveying gas from said cell; means for sorting caps on the basis of whether the gasket thickness is within or outside of a predetermined range; second valve means connected with said conduit means for first sensing means communicable through said second valve means to detect pressure build-up due to gas leakage through the gasket; second sensing means mounted on each cell for detecting caps having gaskets of a thickness exceeding a predetermined maximum; and sorting means responsive to said first and said second sensing means for ejecting caps with gaskets of a thickness which is outside of a predetermined range.

Claim 5

Apparatus for testing thickness of gaskets on caps comprising a plurality of cells mounted on a common support; means for rotating said cells through a series of stations whereby a cap is fed into the open cell, the cell is closed, pressurized gas is admitted to test if thickness of the gasket is within a predetermined, range, the cap is expelled from said apparatus and sorted; cam track means in associated with said apparatus for closing each cell in succession after a cap has been positioned within a cell and for opening each cell in succession after testing of the gasket has been completed prior to expulsion of the cap from a cell; means for feeding caps into said cells; means for successively injecting pressurized gas into each cell; first valve means interposed in said injection means to control injection of gas conduit means for conveying gas from said cell; means for sorting caps on the basis of whether the gasket thickness is within or outside of a predetermined range; second valve means connected with said conduit means for first sensing means communicable through said second valve means to detect pressure build-up due to gas leakage through the gasket; second sensing means mounted on each cell for detecting caps having gaskets of a thickness exceeding a predetermined maximum; and sorting means responsive to said first and said second sensing means for ejecting caps with gaskets of a thickness which is outside of a predetermined range.

Claim 6

Apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said cells comprises a base; cradle for caps mounted on said base; an opening through said base and said cradle; channel means in the floor of said cradle in communication with said opening; a shaft disposed above said base and mounted for travel on said cam track; a bore provided in bottom portion of said shaft; a port in communication with said bore; first disk affixed to the lower extremity of said shaft and having an annular channel which forms a peripheral ridge; a sealing means disposed in said ridge; support means protruding into said annular channel; second disk disposed in and spaced from said channel of said first disk resting on said support means; a cavity in said second disk forming a peripheral ridge which extends to a level above the ridge on said first disk; a bore through said second disk in communication with said bore in said shaft and said cavity; sealing means in association with said first and said second disks to provide hermetical seal between said disks; and means for introducing pressurized gas through said port into said bore in said shaft.

Claim 7

Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second sensing means includes an adjustable stem which protrudes into said channel in said first disk to contact said second disk when a gasket is encountered with a thickness exceeding a predetermined maximum, said first disk forming a second chamber when it is brought in contact with said base and said first disk forming a first chamber when it is brought in contact with the gasket, the gas being admitted into the first chamber and leaks into said second chamber whenever a gasket thickness is below a predetermined minimum.

Claim 8

Apparatus of claim 5 including a valve and a first and second tees, said first tee receives pressurized gas and has a first and second outlets with said second tee being connected to said second outlet; a line connecting said second tee with said second sensing means and a separate line connecting said second tee with said valve; another line connecting said second outlet or said first tee with saiD valve and another separate line connecting said valve with said sorting means and still another separate line connecting said sorting means with said opening through said base and said cradle; said valve is in a normally closed condition until actuation of said second sensing means by a gasket exceeding the maximum predetermined thickness which results in venting of the gas to the atmosphere and draining of the gas from said lines connecting said second tee to said second sensing means and said valve which in turn opens said valve to allow the gas in said line connecting said valve with said second outlet to enter said line connecting said sorting means with said valve to actuate said sorting means in order to eject a cap with a gasket which exceeds the predetermined maximum.

Claim 9

Apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second disk includes an elongated portion with a peripheral abutment, the skirt portion of a cap fitting around said elongated portion with its rim in contact with said abutment when said disk is resting on the gasket having a thickness exceeding the predetermined minimum.

Claim 10

Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second disk includes a hollow stem disposed concentrically within the bore of said shaft and yieldably mounted means within said stem for assisting in separating caps from said second disk.

Claim 11

Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cell includes a base and a cradle for caps disposed in said base; a first disk and a second disk loosely supported within said first disk; means for providing hermetical seal between said first and said second disks; said cam track means serving to move said first disk together with said second disk in contact with said base whereby said first disk forms hermetical chamber with said base and said second disk forms a cavity with a cap positioned in said cradle.

Claim 12

Apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second sensing means includes a plunger which actuated said second sensing means when it comes in contact with said second disk.

Claim 13

Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second disk is yieldably mounted within said first disk.