Machine for applying base cups to bottles

Claim 2

A machine for applying base cups to bottles, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder having means for holding a bottle securely and firmly in an upright position and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders, means for applying adhesive to the inside of said base cups, means for holding said base cups upright and with adhesive applied thereto on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply and adhere the base cups held thereby to the bottles while the bottles are held securely and firmly as aforesaid by the bottle holders thereabove.

Claim 3

A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for elevating said base cup seats is operated automatically in response to the movement of said conveyor.

Claim 4

A machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for elevating said base cup seats comprises a cam rail engageable with said seats in sequence as they are moved along said path by said conveyor.

Claim 5

A machine as defined in claim 1, including means for conveying base cups to said base cup loading means and for conveying bottles with applied base cups away from conveyor, said conveyor means comprising a first track for supporting a line of base cups and leading generally toward said base cup loading means, said conveying means also comprising a second track adjacent said first track for supporting a line of bottles with applied base cups and leading generally away from said conveyor, and advancing means comprising an elongated flexible member having a first flight for moving such base cups along said first track in a direction toward said base cup loading means and having a return flight for moving such bottles with applied base cups along said second track in a direction away from said conveyor, said tracks having generally parallel track portions supported one above the other, said first flight of said flexible member extending along one track portion and said return flight extending along the other track portion.

Claim 6

A machine for applying base cups to bottles, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder for holding a bottle upright and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, each bottle holder comprising means engageable with the body of a bottle and means engageable with the neck of a bottle, said neck engaging means comprising a member having an open slot of generally U-shape for closely receiving the neck of a bottle, said member being of a flexible, compressible material capable of holding the neck of a bottle with a friction grip, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders, means for loading base cups upright on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply the base cups held thereby to the bottles held by the bottle holders thereabove.

Claim 7

A machine for applying base cups to bottles, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder for holding a bottle upright and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, each bottle holder comprising means engageable with the body of a bottle and means engageable with the neck of a bottle, said neck engaging means comprising a member having an open slot of generally U-shape for closely receiving the neck of a bottle, said member being of a flexible, compressible material capable of holding the neck of a bottle with a friction grip, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders, means for loading base cups upright on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply the base cups held thereby to the bottles held by the bottle holders thereabove.

Claim 8

A machine for applying base cups to bottles, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder for holding a bottle upright and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, each bottle holder comprising means engageable with a body of a bottle and means engageable with the neck of a bottle, said neck engaging means comprising a first member of relatively rigid material and a second member of a flexible, compressible, rubber-like material, said members having registering open slots of generally U-shape for closely receiving the neck of a bottle, the slot in said second member being adapted to hold the neck of a bottle with a friction grip and having neck retaining detents, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders, means for loading base cups upright on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply the base cups held thereby to the bottles held by the bottle holders thereabove.

Claim 9

A machine for applying base cups to bottles, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder for holding a bottle upright and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, each bottle holder comprising means engageable with a body of a bottle and means engageable with the neck of a bottle, said neck engaging means comprising a first member of relatively rigid material and a second member of a flexible, compressible, rubber-like material, said members having registering open slots of generally U-shape for closely receiving the neck of a bottle, the slot in said second member being adapted to hold the neck of a bottle with a friction grip and having neck retaining detents, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders, means for loading base cups upright on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply the base cups held thereby to the bottles held by the bottle holders thereabove.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said first and second members are secured together in surface-to-surface contacting relation, said second member having a generally U-shaped recess in its surface contacting said first member to receive a collar on a bottle.

Claim 11

A machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said second member has laterally spaced legs on opposite sides of the entrance to the slot therein which are flared to facilitate the entry of the neck of a bottle.

Claim 12

A machine for applying base cups to bottles which have a body portion and a neck portion of reduced diameter relative to said body portion and are provided with a collar around said neck portion, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder for holding a bottle upright and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, each bottle holder comprising means engageable with the neck portion of the bottle, said neck engaging means comprising a member having an open slot of generally U-shape for closely receiving the neck portion of a bottle beneath its collar to suspend the bottle from its collar, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders with the neck portions of the bottle received in said slot as aforesaid, means for loading base cups upright on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply the base cups held thereby to the bottles held by the bottle holders thereabove.

Claim 13

A machine for applying base cups to bottles which have a body portion and a neck portion of reduced diameter relative to said body portion and are provided with a collar around said neck portion, comprising a conveyor movable along a predetermined path and having a series of support units each comprising a bottle holder for holding a bottle upright and a base cup seat for holding a base cup upright supported beneath said bottle holder for movement toward and away from the bottom of a bottle held by said bottle holder, each bottle holder comprising means engageable with the neck portion of the bottle, said neck engaging means comprising a member having an open slot of generally U-shape for closely receiving the neck portion of a bottle beneath its collar to suspend the bottle from its collar, means for loading bottles upright on said respective bottle holders with the neck portions of the bottle received in said slot as aforesaid, means for loading base cups upright on said respective base cup seats, and means downstream from said bottle and base cup loading means in the direction of conveyor movement for elevating said base cup seats to apply the base cups held thereby to the bottles held by the bottle holders thereabove.