Cap feeding device

Claim 2

A cap feeding device for successively delivering caps from a supply, downwardly through a delivery chute and onto bottles passing the output end of the chute, each of said caps having a circular hat shape defined by a lower enlarged rim and an upper portion, said chute comprising: a. an elongated guide plate for engaging the bottom of the caps, said guide plate extending from the cap supply to the output end of the chute; b. a pair of guide rails overlying the guide plate and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than twice the height of the rim of the caps and spaced laterally from each other by a distance less than the diameter of the rim of the caps and greater than the diameter of the upper portion of the caps; and c. a cap pre-tightening mechanism for initiating the threading of the caps onto successive bottles passing away from the output end of the chute, said pre-tightening mechanism being horizontally disposed and positioned on the downstream side of the output end of the chute and including a first rail member for drivingly engaging one side of the caps and a smooth rail member surfaced for slidably engaging the diametrically opposite sides of the caps, said rail members extending along the path of movement of the bottles away from the chute for engaging opposite sides of the caps and rotating them onto the associated bottle as the bottles move away from the output end of the chute, wherein: i. one of said rail members is pivotally mounted, along the path of movement of the bottles at its upstream end; ii. the other of said rail members is pivotally mounted, along the path of movement of the bottles at its downstream end; and iii. spring means is provided for urging the other ends of the rail members toward the path of movement of the capS on the bottles.

Claim 3

A cap feeding device according to claim 1, wherein: a. said guide rails include extension means overlying the guide plate and spaced therefrom by a distance greater than the height of the caps plus the height of the rim of the caps and being positioned to overlie the upper portion of caps being fed through the chute.

Claim 4

A cap feeding device according to claim 2, wherein: a. said extension means comprises a pair of extensions, each of which is fixed to one of said guide rails and spaced laterally from each other by a distance less than the diameter of the upper portion of the caps.

Claim 5

A cap feeding device according to claim 3, further comprising: a. cap holding and release means at the output end of the chute for holding the leading cap in a vertical orientation with the leading portion thereof exposed for engagement and removal by a bottle passing the output end.

Claim 6

A cap feeding device according to claim 1, wherein: a. the first rail member is pivotally mounted at its upstream end.

Claim 7

A cap feeding device according to claim 5, wherein said cap pre-tightening mechanism includes: a. a horizontally disposed, elongated plate extending over and in the direction of the path of movement of the bottles away from said chute for preventing upward movement of the caps off the associated bottles; and b. said rail members are attached to the bottom surface of the elongated plate.

Claim 8

A cap feeding device according to claim 6, wherein: a. said elongated plate is disposed slightly above the lower end of the deflector; and b. said rail members are horizontally disposed slightly below the lower end of the deflector.

Claim 9

A cap feeding device for successively delivering caps from a supply, downwardly through a delivery chute and onto bottles passing the output end of the chute, each of said caps having a circular hat shape defined by a lower enlarged rim and an upper portion, said chute comprising: a. an elongated guide plate for engaging the bottom of the caps, said guide plate extending from the cap supply to the output end of the chute; b. a pair of guide rails overlying the guide plate and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than twice the height of the rim of the caps and spaced laterally from each other by a distance less than the diameter of the rim of the caps and greater than the diameter of the upper portion of the caps, said guide rails including extension means overlying the guide plate and spaced therefrom by a distance greater than the height of the caps plus the height of the rim of the caps and being positioned to overlie the upper portion of caps being fed through the chute, said extension means comprising a pair of extensions, each of which is fixed to one of said guide rails and spaced laterally from each other by a distance less than the diameter of the upper portion of the caps; and c. cap holding and release means at the output end of the chute for holding the leading cap in a vertical orientation with the leading portion thereof exposed for engagement and removal by a bottle passing the output end, said holding and release means comprising: i. guide means pivotally mounted at the output end of the chute and forming a continuation of said guide plate, said guide means having a curved, dish-shaped surface for engaging the trailing bottom edge surface of the cap, said dish-shaped surface being progressively deeper and larger as of the caps through the chute; and ii. spring means for urging said guide means into engagement with the leading cap as it is removed from the chute.

Claim 10

A cap feeding device for successively delivering caps from a supply, downwardly through a delivery chute and onto bottles passing the output end of the chute, each of said caps having a circular hat shape defined by a lower enlarged rim and an upper portion, said chute comprising: a. an elongated guide plate for engaging the bottom of the caps, said guide plate extending from the cap supply to the output end of the chute; b. a pair of guide rails overlying the guide plate and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than twice the height of the rim of the caps and spaced laterally from each other by a distance less than the diameter of the rim of the caps and greater than the diameter of the upper portion of the caps, said guide rails including extension means overlying the guide plate and spaced therefrom by a distance greater than the height of the caps plus the height of the rim of the caps and being positioned to overlie the upper portion of caps being fed through the chute, said extension means comprising a pair of extensions, each of which is fixed to one of said guide rails and spaced laterally from each other by a distance less than the diameter of the upper portion of the caps; and c. cap holding and release means at the output end of the chute for holding the leading cap in a vertical orientation with the leading portion thereof exposed for engagement and removal by a bottle passing the output end, said holding and release means comprising: i. guide means pivotally mounted at the output end of the chute and forming a continuation of said guide plate, said guide means having a curved, dish-shaped surface for engaging the trailing bottom edge surface of the cap, said dish-shaped surface being progressively deeper and larger as of the caps through the chute; and ii. spring means for urging said guide means into engagement with the leading cap as it is removed from the chute.

Claim 11

A cap feeding device according to claim 8, wherein: a. the guide means is provided with flat surfaces on the laterally opposite sides of the dish-shaped surface for engaging the aligned bottom edge surfaces of the leading cap.

Claim 12

A cap feeding device according to claim 8, wherein said holding and release means further comprises: a. a deflector positioned at the output end of the chute in opposed relation to said guide means for engaging the top surface of the leading cap, said deflector having a free end extending beyond the guide means and defining a pivot point about which the leading cap pivots from its vertical orientation into a horizontal orientation as it is removed from the chute by engagement with a bottle.

Claim 13

A cap feeding device according to claim 10, wherein said holding and release means further comprises: a. a pair of pins engaging generally diametrically opposite sides of the upper portion of the leading cap, said pins being spaced laterally from each other by a distance slightly less than the diameter of the upper portion of the cap; and b. spring means for urging the pins toward each other.

Claim 14

In a cap feeding device for successively delivering caps from a supply, downwardly through a delivery chute and onto bottles passing the output end of the chute, an improved holding and release means disposed at the output end for holding the leading cap in a vertical orientation with the leading portion thereof exposed for engagement and removal by a bottle passing the output end, said holding and release means comprising: a. guide means pivotally mounted at the output end of the chute and forming a continuation thereof, said guide means having a curved, dish-shaped surface for engaging the trailing edge surface of the leading cap in the chute, the dish-shaped surface being progressively deeper and larger as measured in the direction of the path of movement of the caps through the chute; and b. spring means for urging said guide means into engagement with the leading cap as it is removed from the chute.

Claim 15

In a cap feeding device for successively delivering caps from a supply, downwardly through a delivery chute and onto bottles passing the output end of the chute, an improved holding and release means disposed at the output end for holding the leading cap in a vertical orientation with the leading portion thereof exposed for engagement and removal by a bottle passing the output end, said holding and release means comprising: a. guide means pivotally mounted at the output end of the chute and forming a continuation thereof, said guide means having a curved, dish-shaped surface for engaging the trailing edge surface of the leading cap in the chute, the dish-shaped surface being progressively deeper and larger as measured in the direction of the path of movement of the caps through the chute; and b. spring means for urging said guide means into engagement with the leading cap as it is removed from the chute.

Claim 16

An improved holding and release means according to claim 12, wherein: a. the guide means is provided with flat surfaces on the laterally opposite side of the dish-shaped surface for engaging the aligned bottom edge surface of the leading cap.

Claim 17

An improved holding and release means according to claim 13, further comprising: a. a deflector positioned at the output end of the chute in opposed relation to said guide means for engaging the top surface of the leading cap, said deflector having a free end extending beyond the guide means and defining a pivot point about which the leading cap pivots from its vertical orientation into a horizontal orientation as it is removed from the chute by engagement with a bottle.

Claim 18

An improved holding and release mechanism according to claim 14, further comprising: a. a pair of pins engaging generally diametrically opposite sides of the leading cap, said pins being spaced laterally from each other by a distance slightly less than the diameter of the cap; and b. spring means for urging the pins toward each other.

Claim 19

A cap pre-tightening mechanism for initiating the threading of caps onto successive bottles passing through a predetermined path, comprising: a. a first serrated elongated rail member for drivingly engaging one side of a cap and a second smooth elongated rail member for slidably engaging the diametrically opposite side of the cap, said members extending along the path of movement of the bottles for engaging opposite sides of the cap and rotating them onto the bottles, wherein: i. one of said rail members is pivotally mounted along the path of movement of the bottles at its upstream end; ii. the other of said rail members is pivotally mounted along the path of movement of the bottles at its downstream end; and iii. spring means is provided for urging the other ends of the rail members toward the path of movement of the caps on the bottles.

Claim 20

A cap pre-tightening mechanism for initiating the threading of caps onto successive bottles passing through a predetermined path, comprising: a. a first serrated elongated rail member for drivingly engaging one side of a cap and a second smooth elongated rail member for slidably engaging the diametrically opposite side of the cap, said members extending along the path of movement of the bottles for engaging opposite sides of the cap and rotating them onto the bottles, wherein: i. one of said rail members is pivotally mounted along the path of movement of the bottles at its upstream end; ii. the other of said rail members is pivotally mounted along the path of movement of the bottles at its downstream end; and iii. spring means is provided for urging the other ends of the rail members toward the path of movement of the caps on the bottles.

Claim 21

A cap pre-tightening mechanism as in claim 16, wherein said spring means comprises: a. a bolt secured substantially proximate to the end of the rail; b. plate means disposed adjacent said rail, said bolt extending through an orifice in said plate means; and c. a spring disposed around said bolt and adapted to be compressed beTween said rail and said plate means.

Claim 22

A cap pre-tightening mechanism according to claim 16, wherein: a. the first rail member is pivotally mounted at its upstream end.

Claim 23

A cap pre-tightening mechanism according to claim 18, further comprising: a. a horizontally disposed, elongated plate extending over and in the direction of the path of movement of the bottles for preventing upward movement of the caps off the associated bottles; and b. means for attaching said rail members to the bottom surface of the elongated plate.