Patent Application
20060027286
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to filler devices, and, in particular to a clamping assembly for use in association with filler devices, to, for example, facilitate the attachment and detachment of various change parts of filler devices (i.e., filler device components). It will be understood that a filler device may include components which perform a variety of processes, including, but not limited to rinsing, filling, capping, sealing and sorting of any one or more of caps, flexible containers and/or rigid containers. Such devices are commonly used in the food and beverage industry.
2. Background Art
Filler devices have been in use for many years. Such filler devices include multiple components which are configured to retain and direct the containers to be filled. Among other components, such components include rotary container grasping components and linear container guiding components coupled to other components of the filler device. Generally, it is desirable to couple such filler components in a manner such that they can be decoupled, removed and reinstalled with minimal effort.
For example, in certain instances, components are removed from the filler device for cleaning. Such cleaning has gained importance with the increasingly stringent controls relative to cleanliness and relative to the filling for an extended shelf life, especially with low acid fluids. Moreover, in certain circumstances, the same filler device can be used in association with containers of varying sizes. In either situation quick removal and replacement with minimal effort becomes important and desirable.
Certain fasteners have been developed to facilitate the quick removal and replacement of various filler components. Certain of such fasteners or coupling assemblies require the manufacture of multiple custom components which are quite costly to design and manufacture. Other fasteners require the use of several different special tools to couple and decouple the components. Still other designs, while actuatable by the hand of a user without special tools, generally do not have adequate positive engagement of components of a sufficient strength of retention. As such, even when fully assembled, the coupled components can move relative to each other. Lastly, certain fasteners comprise multiple components which must be removed. With such fasteners, the various components are often small and are easily dropped or lost within the filler device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to prelude a coupling assembly which can be articulated without any one of conventional and/or special tools.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly which is easily positionable in each of an engaged position and a disengaged position.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly which can be manufactured in a relatively cost effective manner.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly which remains integral and which does not require the removal and disconnection of multiple components thereof.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.
A clamping assembly for clamping a first component of a filler device to a second component of a filler device comprising a first member and a second member. The first member includes a slot positioned thereon and a channel intersecting therewith, the first member attached to the first component of the filler device. The second member includes a pivot member and an adjustment member. The pivot member includes a body with a first end and a second end. An outward protrusion is positioned proximate the first end of the body, the protrusion is positionable within the slot of the first member, such that the first end of the body is capable of traversing along the channel of the first member. A threadform is positioned proximate the second end thereof. The adjustment member includes a body and a manipulating member. The body includes a threadform positioned thereon which is capable of mating engagement with the threadform of the pivot member. The manipulating member facilitates manipulation of the adjustment member by a hand of a user.
In a preferred embodiment, the channel is substantially perpendicular to the slot. In another preferred embodiment, the outward protrusion extends on opposing sides of the pivot member, at the first end thereof. In one such embodiment, the channel is configured so as to permit rotation of the pivot member through an angular displacement of less than 90°, wherein the outward protrusion forms the axis of rotation.
In another preferred embodiment, the first member includes an attachment assembly comprising a plurality of openings; and a plurality of fasteners capable of extending through the openings and into the second component.
In a preferred embodiment, the second member further includes means for precluding detachment of the pivot member relative to the adjustment member. In one such embodiment, the precluding means further comprises a stop positioned proximate the second end of the pivot member, to in turn, limit the outward rotation of the adjustment member beyond a predetermined point.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
In greater detail, clamping assembly 10 includes first member 12, second member 14 and engagement member 16 (
Second member 14 is shown in
Second end 38 of pivot member 30 includes a plurality of threads 33 positioned thereon. The particular configuration of the threads (i.e., fine/coarse, etc.), can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. The threads extend a certain distance from second end 38 toward first end 36. In the embodiment shown, the threads extend only partially between the first and second ends.
Adjustment member 32 is shown in
In certain embodiments, the second member includes means for precluding detachment of the pivot member relative to the adjustment member. In one embodiment, the precluding means may comprise a variation in the threadform of the second end of pivot member, to, in turn, preclude the detachment of adjustment member 32. In another embodiment, a physical stop, such as stop 67 shown in
The engagement member 16 is shown in
In operation, the outward protrusion 40 of the second member is positioned into slot 21 of the first member such that it may be pivotable therein. Channel 22 is positioned such that pivot member 30 is permitted to pass from one end of the channel to the other end of the channel through pivoted movement thereof. Next, the first member of clamping assembly 10 is positioned and attached to component 110. Finally, removable component 100 is positioned in the proper orientation for attachment. Preferably, the outward protrusion comprises the axis of rotation of pivot member 30 and, the pivot member can pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In a disengaged position, the outward protrusion 40 remains within slot 21 yet the pivot member is positioned away from slot 72 of engagement member on component 100 (
In an engaged position, the pivot member is pivoted about the outward protrusion within slot 21 such that the pivot member is positioned into the slot 72 on engagement member 16, to overlie a portion of component 100. At such time, the manipulating member of the adjustment member can be rotated to advance the adjustment member along threads 42 of pivot member 30. The further rotation places engagement surface 59 into abutment with upper surface 74 of plate member 70, to in turn, clamp component 100 there between. Thus, the component 100 is clamped to component 110 and releaseably retained.
To disengage the components, the pivot member is returned to the disengaged configuration. In particular, the adjustment member is loosened disengaging engagement surface 59 from upper surface 74. Once loosened sufficiently, the pivot member is pivoted relative to the first member, about the axis of outward protrusion 40. Through such pivoting, the pivot member is removed from slot 72 on engagement member 16 associated with component 110. The configuration of channel 22 facilitates movement of the pivot member through a predetermined angular distance. For example, the channel 22 may be configured to permit a rotation of the pivot member a distance sufficient to remove the pivot member from the proximity of component 110, but substantially no further (i.e., to minimize the necessary amount of movement of the pivot member). In one embodiment, the channel is configured so as to permit pivoting of the pivot member through an angular distance less than 90°. Of course, other angular displacements are likewise contemplated. Once in the disengaged configuration, the component 100 can be removed.
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.
