Capping device

Claim 2

A capping machine for closing an open end of a cup including a fluid drive system for operating said machine from a source of fluid power, comprising: on-off switch means for actuating said machine responsive to said cup placement in said machine; valve means for controlling said drive system connected to said on-off switch means; first actuator means connected to said valve means; second actuator means connected to said valve means; switch means responsible to travel of at least one of said first and said second actuator means; cup drive means connected to said switch means and responsive to energization thereof; and timer means connected between said last mentioned switch means and said valve means for reversing said valve means after a predetermined elapsed time period, said valve means reversal acting to return said cup drive means, said first actuator and said second actuator to an initial position.

Claim 3

The capping machine of claim 1 further characterized by stop means connected to said valve means and aligned axially with said cup drive means but directed oppositely thereto wherein said cup drive means and said stop means are allowed to said counter balance one another in at least one position of cup drive means.

Claim 4

The capping machine of claim 2 further characterized by a heat shrink station positioned between said stop means and said cup drive means.

Claim 5

The capping machine of claim 3 wherein said stop means has a guard operatively connected to it.

Claim 6

The capping machine of claim 4 wherein said heat shrink station further comprises a heat tunnel having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of oppositely opposed side walls connected to said top and bottom walls, said heat tunnel having an axial opening through it, one of said side walls being disposed annularly about said axial opening.

Claim 7

The capping machine of claim 5 wherein said top wall, said bottom wall, and said side walls define a chamber therebetween, said side wall disposed annularly about said axial opening having a vent in it adapted to direct an air flow in said axial opening from said bottom wall toward said top wall.

Claim 8

The capping machine of claim 6 further characterized by heater means carried by said heat tunnel in said chamber and a blower having an output side adapted to direct air through said chamber.

Claim 9

The capping machine of claim 7 further characterized by means for advancing a length of heat shrinkable film between said bottom wall of said heat tunnel and said cup drive means.

Claim 10

The capping machine of claim 8 further characterized by cutter means for severing a portion of said heat shrinkable film, said cutter means comprising an electrical resistance wire carried along but spaced from said bottom wall of said heat tunnel.

Claim 11

In a capping machine having a film advance system for advancing a length of heat shrinkable film, means for advancing a container to engage said film, and means for cutting said film in response to cup-film movement, the improvement comprising a heat tunnel for shrinking said film, said heat tunnel including a top wall having an opening in it, a bottom wall parallel to said top wall, said bottom wall having an opening in it which aligns with the opening of said top wall, a first side wall connected from and between said top and bottom walls along the perimeter of said top and said bottom walls, and a second side wall connected from and between said top and said bottom walls along the radially outer edge of said openings in said top and said bottom walls so as to define an axial channel through at least a substantial length of said heat tunnel for receiving said cup and film combination, and a baffle system mounted to in said tunnel, said baffle system being adapted to direct a current of hEated air upwardly toward the top of said container from the bottom of said container, said second wall having a part which defines a portion of said baffle system.

Claim 12

In a capping machine having a film advance system for advancing a length of heat shrinkable film, means for advancing a container to engage said film, and means for cutting said film in response to cup-film movement, the improvement comprising a heat tunnel for shrinking said film, said heat tunnel including a top wall having an opening in it, a bottom wall parallel to said top wall, said bottom wall having an opening in it which aligns with the opening of said top wall, a first side wall connected from and between said top and bottom walls along the perimeter of said top and said bottom walls, and a second side wall connected from and between said top and said bottom walls along the radially outer edge of said openings in said top and said bottom walls so as to define an axial channel through at least a substantial length of said heat tunnel for receiving said cup and film combination, and a baffle system mounted to in said tunnel, said baffle system being adapted to direct a current of hEated air upwardly toward the top of said container from the bottom of said container, said second wall having a part which defines a portion of said baffle system.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 10 wherein said capping machine is pneumatically operated and is further characterized by means for protecting the heat shrinkable film covering the open mouth of said container.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 11 wherein said means for protecting the heat shrinkable film comprises a guard having a cylindrical body portion and an outwardly extending radial flange portion, said guard being adapted to close one end of said axial channel during heat shrinking operations.

Claim 15

In a capping machine for closing an open end of a container, including means for advancing said container for sealing, means for cutting a film wrap coordinated to cup movement and means for advancing said film wrap coordinated to cup movement, the improvement comprising heat shrinking means, said means comprising a heat tunnel having an inner wall, an outer wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said heat tunnel having an axial opening in it for receiving the open end of said container, said inner wall being connected between said top and bottom walls along the periphery of said axial opening, said inner wall, said outer wall, said top wall and said bottom wall defining a chamber therebetween; heating means mounted in said chamber, a blower mounted so as to direct air through said chamber and over said heating means, and a baffle mounted in said chamber adapted to direct air from said blower across said heating means, said baffle being V-shaped in cross-section, at least one leg of said V being substantially shorter than the other leg of said V, said short leg extending radially inwardly into said axial opening, said inner wall and said bottom wall being spaced to permit passage of said short leg and to define an opening between said chamber and said axial opening.

Claim 16

In a capping machine for closing an open end of a container, including means for advancing said container for sealing, means for cutting a film wrap coordinated to cup movement and means for advancing said film wrap coordinated to cup movement, the improvement comprising heat shrinking means, said means comprising a heat tunnel having an inner wall, an outer wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said heat tunnel having an axial opening in it for receiving the open end of said container, said inner wall being connected between said top and bottom walls along the periphery of said axial opening, said inner wall, said outer wall, said top wall and said bottom wall defining a chamber therebetween; heating means mounted in said chamber, a blower mounted so as to direct air through said chamber and over said heating means, and a baffle mounted in said chamber adapted to direct air from said blower across said heating means, said baffle being V-shaped in cross-section, at least one leg of said V being substantially shorter than the other leg of said V, said short leg extending radially inwardly into said axial opening, said inner wall and said bottom wall being spaced to permit passage of said short leg and to define an opening between said chamber and said axial opening.

Claim 17

A capping machine for applying a heat shrinkable film wrap about an open container comprising: drive means for actuating said machine responsive to container placement; and heating means for shrinking said film wrap, said heating means having an axial opening through it permitting passage of said container, said heating means further including: a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from said top wall, a first cylindrical side wall part and a second cylindrical side wall part concentric with said first side wall part, said second cylindrical side wall part together with said top and said bottom walls defining said axial opening through said heating means, said top, said bottom and said first and said second cylindrical side wall parts defining a chamber therebetween; a blower mounted to said machine so as to direct a volume of air circumferentially about said first and said second cylindrical side wall parts within said chamber; a heating element mounted in said chamber; and a baffle system mounted between said first and said second cylindrical side wall parts adapted to direct air movement toward said second cylindrical side wall part, said second cylindrical side wall part including means for directing said air into said axial opening.

Claim 18

A capping machine for applying a heat shrinkable film wrap about an open container comprising: drive means for actuating said machine responsive to container placement; and heating means for shrinking said film wrap, said heating means having an axial opening through it permitting passage of said container, said heating means further including: a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from said top wall, a first cylindrical side wall part and a second cylindrical side wall part concentric with said first side wall part, said second cylindrical side wall part together with said top and said bottom walls defining said axial opening through said heating means, said top, said bottom and said first and said second cylindrical side wall parts defining a chamber therebetween; a blower mounted to said machine so as to direct a volume of air circumferentially about said first and said second cylindrical side wall parts within said chamber; a heating element mounted in said chamber; and a baffle system mounted between said first and said second cylindrical side wall parts adapted to direct air movement toward said second cylindrical side wall part, said second cylindrical side wall part including means for directing said air into said axial opening.

Claim 19

A capping machine for closing an open end of a container including a drive system for operating said machine from a source of power comprising: on-off switch means for actuating said machine, said on-off switch means being responsive to container placement in said machine; means for controlling said drive system, said control means being operatively connected to said on-off switch means and being activated by said on-off switch means; first actuator means for advancing a reach of shrinkable film operatively connected to said control means and operated thereby; second actuator means for collecting unused portions of said shrinkable film reach operatively connected to said control means and operated thereby; switch means responsive to travEl of at least one of said first and said second actuator means; cup drive means connected to said switch means and responsive to energization thereof; and means for timing the operation of said cup drive means operatively connected between said last mentioned switch means and said control means for resetting said control means after a predetermined lapse period of time, the resetting of said control means acting to return said cup drive means, said first actuator and said second actuator to an initial condition.

Claim 20

A capping machine for closing an open end of a container including a drive system for operating said machine from a source of power comprising: on-off switch means for actuating said machine, said on-off switch means being responsive to container placement in said machine; means for controlling said drive system, said control means being operatively connected to said on-off switch means and being activated by said on-off switch means; first actuator means for advancing a reach of shrinkable film operatively connected to said control means and operated thereby; second actuator means for collecting unused portions of said shrinkable film reach operatively connected to said control means and operated thereby; switch means responsive to travEl of at least one of said first and said second actuator means; cup drive means connected to said switch means and responsive to energization thereof; and means for timing the operation of said cup drive means operatively connected between said last mentioned switch means and said control means for resetting said control means after a predetermined lapse period of time, the resetting of said control means acting to return said cup drive means, said first actuator and said second actuator to an initial condition.

Claim 21

The capping machine of claim 15 further characterized by stop means operatively connected to said control means for preventing cup movement after a predetermined distance of cup travel.

Claim 22

The capping machine of claim 16 wherein said power source is a fluid power source, said control means comprising a fluid operated valve, said stop means comprising a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to said control means and aligned axially with said cup drive means but directed oppositely thereto so that said stop means counter balances the drive force of said cup drive means in at least one position of said cup drive means.

Claim 23

The capping machine of claim 16 further characterized by a heat shrink station positioned between said stop means and said cup drive means.

Claim 24

The capping machine of claim 18 wherein said heat shrink station further comprises a heat tunnel having a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of oppositely opposed side walls connected to said top and said bottom walls, said heat tunnel having an axial opening through it, one of said side walls being disposed annularly about said axial opening.