Chuck apparatus for supporting containers by the finish portion thereof

Claim 2

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination: a chuck assembly including, a spindle, means for mounting said spindle vertically, a chuck body carried by said spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body for pivotal movement about horizontal axes and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being so shaped that when in said closed position in use they form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container supported by the chuck assembly, an annular sleeve shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position so that said jaws support said container thereby, and said jaws each being so mounted to said body and of such shape as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of closing engagement with said jaws, and means for spinning said chuck body so that said jaws pivot outwardly toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith.

Claim 3

The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for shifting said sleeve into and out of closing engagement with said jaws comprises a lift assembly comprising, a vertically reciprocable shaft having a fork attached thereto, said fork extending horizontally from said shaft and engageable with said annular sleeve to shift tHe latter along said spindle vertically with respect to said jaws, and means for shifting the shaft and fork vertically.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vertically disposed spindle is mounted at an upper end for rotation in a housing and wherein said chuck body is attached to a lower end of said spindle.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing is mounted on a supporting elongated track to move said chuck assembly through a path and further comprising flexible means disposed at least partially in a portion of said path for engaging said spindle and for spinning said spindle, chuck body and jaws as the assembly is moved along said path.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said chuck body is attached to said spindle by a screw extending through said body into a lower end of said spindle and further including a lug on the lower end of said spindle and a slot in said chuck body receiving said lug and holding said chuck body against rotation with respect to said spindle in order to keep said chuck body from unscrewing from said spindle.

Claim 7

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination: a chuck assembly including, a spindle, means for mounting said spindle vertically, a chuck body carried by said spindle and having a plurality of horizontally disposed recesses therein, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, each of said jaws having a main body portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, a pivot pin extending transversely through said lobe portion and adapted to seat in a respective one of said recesses, a bridging portion extending horizontally and radially outwardly from a lower area of said lobe portion, and an arcuate portion extending vertically downwardly from said bridging portion, said arcuate portion including a lip portion, said jaws being pivotally movable about the pivot axis of said pins between an open position and a radially inward closed position wherein said jaws form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container supported by the chuck assembly, an annular sleeve shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said lip portion being adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position so that said jaws support said container thereby, said jaws being so mounted, with respect to their centers of mass, as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, and, means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of engagement with said jaws.

Claim 8

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination: a chuck assembly including, a spindle, means for mounting said spindle vertically, a chuck body carried by said spindle and having a plurality of horizontally disposed recesses therein, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, each of said jaws having a main body portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, a pivot pin extending transversely through said lobe portion and adapted to seat in a respective one of said recesses, a bridging portion extending horizontally and radially outwardly from a lower area of said lobe portion, and an arcuate portion extending vertically downwardly from said bridging portion, said arcuate portion including a lip portion, said jaws being pivotally movable about the pivot axis of said pins between an open position and a radially inward closed position wherein said jaws form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container supported by the chuck assembly, an annular sleeve shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said lip portion being adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position so that said jaws support said container thereby, said jaws being so mounted, with respect to their centers of mass, as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, and, means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of engagement with said jaws.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said means for shifting said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws comprises a lift assembly comprising, a vertically reciprocal shaft having a fork attached thereto, said fork extending horizontally from said shaft and engageable with said annular sleeve to lift it vertically from engagement with said jaws, and, means for shifting the shaft and fork vertically.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 7 including means to spin said chuck so that said jaws rotate toward an open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 6 including a track defining a predetermined fixed path and wherein said chuck assembly is mounted on said track to carry said container along said fixed path, and further including cam means for releasing a container from said jaws.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said cam means includes a cam surface disposed within said predetermined path of said container to rock said container, when said sleeve does not engage said jaws, in order to release said container from said jaws.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said cam means includes a cam surface adjacent said path and disposed to engage at least one of said jaws, when said container is at a predetermined point in said path, and When said sleeve does not engage said jaws in order to pivot said jaw and to release said container from said jaws.

Claim 14

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination: a movable chuck assembly comprising, a vertically disposed spindle, a housing receiving and supporting an upper end of said spindle, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a spread apart open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being shaped to form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container carried by said jaws, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle with respect to said body, said spindle holding said sleeve in alignment with said jaws for engaging and camming said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion, when said jaws are in said closed position, and to support said container thereby, said jaws being so mounted as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position to said closed position, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, said housing being movably mounted on said track, means for driving said housing and said chuck assembly along said track, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path and comprising a shaft vertically reciprocal within a concentric casing, first fork means attached to said shaft, extending horizontally from said shaft, and engageable around said annular sleeve, said first fork means shiftable vertically with respect to said casing to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, second fork means attached and extending horizontally from said casing and engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, and means for driving said lift assembly.

Claim 15

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination: a movable chuck assembly comprising, a vertically disposed spindle, a housing receiving and supporting an upper end of said spindle, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a spread apart open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being shaped to form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container carried by said jaws, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle with respect to said body, said spindle holding said sleeve in alignment with said jaws for engaging and camming said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion, when said jaws are in said closed position, and to support said container thereby, said jaws being so mounted as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position to said closed position, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, said housing being movably mounted on said track, means for driving said housing and said chuck assembly along said track, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path and comprising a shaft vertically reciprocal within a concentric casing, first fork means attached to said shaft, extending horizontally from said shaft, and engageable around said annular sleeve, said first fork means shiftable vertically with respect to said casing to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, second fork means attached and extending horizontally from said casing and engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, and means for driving said lift assembly.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 12 including means to at least partially open said jaws when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith.

Claim 17

Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said opening means includes means to spin said chuck assembly to cause said jaws to rotate toward an open position.

Claim 18

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof and for carrying a container throughout a predetermined path defined by a track, said apparatus including: a spindle, means for mounting a spindle vertically for movement along said track, a chuck body carried by said spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted on said body and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being so shaped that when in said closed position they form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container supported thereby, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws each being so mounted to said body as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, means for shifting said sleeve into and out of closing engagement with said jaws, and cam means at least adjacent said predetermined path for releasing said container from said jaws at a predetermined position.

Claim 19

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof and for carrying a container throughout a predetermined path defined by a track, said apparatus including: a spindle, means for mounting a spindle vertically for movement along said track, a chuck body carried by said spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted on said body and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being so shaped that when in said closed position they form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container supported thereby, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws each being so mounted to said body as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, means for shifting said sleeve into and out of closing engagement with said jaws, and cam means at least adjacent said predetermined path for releasing said container from said jaws at a predetermined position.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said cam means includes a cam surface disposed partially within said predetermined path for engaging a container, wherein said sleeve is out of engagement with said jaws, and for thereby rocking said container with respect to said jaws so as To release said container therefrom.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said cam means includes a cam surface disposed to engage at least one of said jaws, when said container is moved through said path, to pivot said jaw toward an open position in order to release a container from said jaws.

Claim 22

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a movable chuck assembly comprising, a rotatable vertically disposed spindle having an upper end and a lower end, a housing mounting said spindle at said upper end thereof, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, said chuck body including a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of vertically disposed chuck jaws mounted by said body, each of said jaws including a main body portion, a lip portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, and a pivot pin having a horizontal axis and extending transversely through said lobe portion and adapted to seat in a respective one of said recesses, the said lip portions being adapted to engage and mask said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws being pivotally movable about the axis of said pins between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, and said jaws being shaped so as to form a substantially closed annulus about said finish portion to mask the latter from application of a coating to said container, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable on said spindle and operative to engage and cam said jaws to said closed position, said jaws being so mounted on said pivot pins as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, means for mounting said housing on said track and for driving said chuck assembly along said track and path, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path comprising a shaft mounted vertically for reciprocation within a concentric casing, first fork means attached to said shaft, extending therefrom, and engageable around said annular sleeve to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, second fork means attached to said casing, extending therefrom, and engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, means for driving said lift assembly, means disposed at least adjacent a path defined by said spindles, as the chuck assembly moves along said track, for spinning the spindles, chuck body, and jaws to bias said jaws toward their open position, and cam means disposed at least adjacent said fixed predetermined path for releasing said container from said jaws at a predetermined position.

Claim 23

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a movable chuck assembly comprising, a rotatable vertically disposed spindle having an upper end and a lower end, a housing mounting said spindle at said upper end thereof, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, said chuck body including a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of vertically disposed chuck jaws mounted by said body, each of said jaws including a main body portion, a lip portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, and a pivot pin having a horizontal axis and extending transversely through said lobe portion and adapted to seat in a respective one of said recesses, the said lip portions being adapted to engage and mask said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws being pivotally movable about the axis of said pins between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, and said jaws being shaped so as to form a substantially closed annulus about said finish portion to mask the latter from application of a coating to said container, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable on said spindle and operative to engage and cam said jaws to said closed position, said jaws being so mounted on said pivot pins as to be biased by the force of gravity from said open position toward said closed position, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, means for mounting said housing on said track and for driving said chuck assembly along said track and path, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path comprising a shaft mounted vertically for reciprocation within a concentric casing, first fork means attached to said shaft, extending therefrom, and engageable around said annular sleeve to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, second fork means attached to said casing, extending therefrom, and engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, means for driving said lift assembly, means disposed at least adjacent a path defined by said spindles, as the chuck assembly moves along said track, for spinning the spindles, chuck body, and jaws to bias said jaws toward their open position, and cam means disposed at least adjacent said fixed predetermined path for releasing said container from said jaws at a predetermined position.

Claim 24

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination; a chuck assembly including, a spindle, means for vertically mounting a spindle, a chuck body carried by the spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being so shaped that when in closed position they form a substantially closed annulus about said finish portion, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position and to support said container thereby, means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of closing engagement with said jaws, and means for spinning said chuck body so that said jaws pivot outwardly toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement thereWith.

Claim 25

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination; a chuck assembly including, a spindle, means for vertically mounting a spindle, a chuck body carried by the spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, said jaws being pivotally movable between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being so shaped that when in closed position they form a substantially closed annulus about said finish portion, an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and hold said jaws in said closed position, said jaws each including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position and to support said container thereby, means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of closing engagement with said jaws, and means for spinning said chuck body so that said jaws pivot outwardly toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement thereWith.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the vertically disposed spindle is mounted at an upper end for rotation in a housing and wherein said chuck body is attached to a lower end of said spindle.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said housing is mounted on an elongated track to move said chuck assembly through a path defined by the track and further comprising flexible means disposed at least partially in a portion of said path for engaging said spindle and for spinning said spindle, chuck body and jaws as the assembly is moved along said path, said jaws being biased toward the open position by said spinning.