Patent Application
20120272624
The present invention relates to a pump, a collar, a cover or a cap securing apparatus for easily, consistently and reliably capping/uncapping a desired pump, collar, cover or cap (all of which are hereinafter collectively referred to as a “cap”) to the threaded opening of a desired container.
A variety of mechanized devices are currently available in the prior art for rapid torquing and securing or untorquing and unsecuring a threaded cap to or from a threaded opening of a container. One such device generally comprises a single rotatable head with an internal cavity which receives, surrounds and frictionally engages with the cap, via an axially downward directed motion of the head from above the cap. Once the rotatable head sufficiently frictionally engages with the cap, the rotatable head is then activated to apply sufficient torque to rotate the cap, relative to the container, and sufficiently cap or uncap the cap to the container in a conventional manner.
One drawback with such mechanized devices is that the rotatable head must have an unobstructed axial path from vertically above the cap, so as to permit the rotatable head to receive and engage with the top and/or sides of the cap so as to permit inducing relative rotation thereto. However, when the cap includes an additional component(s) or feature(s), such as a pump head, a spray head, an irregular shaped top portion, etc., then an unobstructed axial path is not present for securing/unsecuring such cap and thus the currently available mechanized devices cannot be used for easily, consistently and reliably securing/unsecuring the caps to or from the containers.
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art mechanized securing devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap securing apparatus which facilitates easy, quick, reliable and accurate securing or unsecuring of a cap to the threaded opening of a container, by moving a plurality of rotatable wheels laterally or radially inward toward a portion of a centrally located cap so that the rotatable wheels can frictionally engage with a lateral surface of the cap and induce a desired rotation, i.e., tightening or untightening, of the cap which sufficiently rotates the cap relative to the threaded opening of the container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide substantially simultaneously activated drive mechanism and a cap engagement mechanism which cooperate with one another for securing/unsecuring the cap with the threaded opening of the container and, once this is achieved, the cap engagement mechanism facilitates movement of the rotatable wheels, from contact with the lateral surface of the cap, so that the container can be removed and replaced with a new container having a new cap to be either secured thereto or removed therefrom.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pressurized air or fluid actuator, which is preferably pneumatically or hydraulically actuated, that is arranged to actuate simultaneously at least one (1), more preferably at least two (2) and most preferably three (3) or four (4), movable or pivotally mounted (pivotable) arms, which are each coupled with a vertically movable constrictor plate that controls movement of the pivotable arms and thereby facilitates both engagement of the rotatable wheels, accommodated at a remote free end of each of the pivotable arms, with the cap to be secured/unsecured, as well as disengagement and release of the rotatable wheels, supported by the remote free end of each of the pivotable arms, from the secured/unsecured cap once the cap is sufficiently rotated, relative to the container, by the cap securing apparatus.
A still further object of the present invention is to mount each one of the pivotable arms so that they are each rotatably driven so as to drive the wheel, supported at the free end thereof, in a desired rotational direction for securing/unsecuring a cap with a container. Preferably a slave pulley is supported adjacent the pivotally attached end of each of the movable or pivotable arms and driven by a master pulley supported by a drive shaft of a motor. The master pulley is coupled to each one of the slave pulleys, via a flexible drive belt, for simultaneously driving the wheels supported by each one of the movable or pivotable arms.
A still further additional object of the present invention is to provide a cap securing apparatus in which the rotatable wheel, accommodated by the free end of each one of the movable or pivotable arms, can be readily replaced as necessary or desired so as to facilitate the cap securing apparatus properly engaging with the desired cap to be secured to a desired container.
It is to be appreciated that there are several ways to approach the problem of accurately and repeatably securing or unsecuring caps of various shapes and sizes with respect to containers of various shapes and sizes. A standard line of cap tightening products may excel at torquing/untorquing the caps with the containers, but they will be limited to simple shaped caps and will typically not work with caps which include a nozzle, a spray head, a pump spout, a pump dispenser or any other protruding feature of cap, for example. The cap securing apparatus, according to the present invention, provides an arrangement in which the movable or pivotable arms move essentially radially inwardly toward a cap to be capped/uncapped, but are sufficiently spaced from the cap so as to provide a vertical area above the rotatable wheels which is not breached or entered into by any component(s) or element(s) of the cap securing apparatus.
The invention further relates to a cap securing apparatus for rotating a cap relative to a container, the cap securing apparatus comprising: a support base supporting a main support; the main support supporting a plurality of arms, and each of the plurality of arms supporting a rotatable wheel adjacent a remote free end thereof; a drive mechanism for supplying drive to at least one of the rotatable wheels, supported by the plurality of arms, for inducing rotation thereof; a cap engagement mechanism for moving the wheels from a disengaged first position, in which the wheels are spaced from the cap to be one of capped or uncapped with respect to the container, into an engaged second position in which the wheels engage with the cap for inducing rotation of the cap and one of capping the cap to the container and uncapping the cap from the container.
The invention also relates to a method of rotating a cap with respect to a container via a cap securing apparatus for rotating a cap relative to a container, the cap securing apparatus comprising a support base supporting a main support, the main support supporting a plurality of arms, and each of the plurality of arms supporting a rotatable wheel adjacent a remote free end thereof, a drive mechanism for supplying drive to at least one of the rotatable wheels, supported by the plurality of arms, for inducing rotation thereof, a cap engagement mechanism for moving the wheels from a disengaged first position, in which the wheels are spaced from the cap to be one of capped or uncapped with respect to the container, into an engaged second position in which the wheels engage with the cap for inducing rotation of the cap and one of capping the cap to the container and uncapping the cap from the container, the method comprising the steps of: placing the container with the cap to be one of capped to or uncapped from the container on the support base; actuating the drive mechanism to supply drive to at least one of the rotatable wheels an actuation device; actuating the cap engagement mechanism to move the wheels from the disengaged first position into the engaged second position to engage and induce rotation of the cap and one of capping the cap to the container and uncapping the cap from the container; and deactuating both the drive mechanism and the cap engagement mechanism.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
With reference now to
The post-assembly 6 generally comprises both a guidepost 10 and a lead screw 12 (see
A post-assembly plate 17 is fixedly connected to the uppermost portion of a second end of the guidepost 10. An elevation lead screw crank 18 is secured to the vertically uppermost free end of the lead screw 12 to facilitate desired manual rotation of the lead screw 12, in a desired rotational direction, by an operator. One or more bearings or other elements (not shown in detail) couple both the lead screw 12 and the screw crank 18 to the post-assembly plate 17 so as to facilitate rotation thereof relative to the post-assembly plate 17. As a result of this arrangement, any rotation of the lead screw 12, in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise rotational direction, via manual rotation of the screw crank 18, causes the main support 8 to be conveyed either vertically upward toward the post-assembly plate 17 and away from the support base 4 or vertically downward away from post-assembly plate 17 and toward the support base 4 and thereby provide the desired adjustment of the main support 8, the purpose of which will be come apparent from the following description. The guide and slide section 14 of the main support 8 typically has conventional bearing members and/or some other low friction surface slide and/or guide surface(s) or member(s) (not shown in detail) which engage with the guidepost 10 and facilitate the desired low friction guiding and sliding motion of the main support 8 along and relative to the guidepost 10 when the elevation lead screw crank 18 is rotated in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction.
The lead screw 12 may be, for example, a 3/8 inch diameter right hand acme screw thread with an 8 pitch and a 4 start, such that the main support 8 moves vertically 0.125 inches of travel for each revolution of the lead screw 12. It is to be appreciated that other diameter and/or pitch lead screws would also be suitable for adjusting the position of the main support 8 relative to the support base 4.
The cap securing apparatus 2 also includes a locking mechanism in the form of a rotatable post clamp 20 (see
When desired, the position of the main support 8, relative to the support base 4, can be easily adjusted by loosening the post clamp 20, i.e., moving the post clamp 20 to its spaced second position, and rotating the elevation lead screw crank 18 in a desired rotational direction, i.e., either clockwise or counterclockwise. Such rotation either increases or decreases the relative spacing between the main support 8 and the post-assembly plate 17 as well as the spacing between a lower surface of the main support 8 and the top surface of the support base 4, to facilitating raising or lowering the main support 8 and thereby accommodating different height and/or sized containers on the support base 4. Once the desired relative spacing is achieved by the operator, e.g., relative spacing S is achieved, as shown in
It is to be appreciated that the main support 8 is typically readjusted each time a different size and/or height container 22, with an associated cap 24 to be capped/uncapped thereto, is to be placed on the support base 4 for capping/uncapping the cap 24 (see
As generally shown in
If so desired, a conventional vice or some other conventional clamping mechanism or member may be utilized alone, or in combination with the V-block 27 and/or the lateral guides 29, in order to assist with securely clamping and restraining the container 22 on the support base 4 during either capping or uncapping of the cap 24 with respect to the container 22. It is to be appreciated that when the container 22 is either quite small or the operator desires to keep his/her hands sufficiently away from the cap securing apparatus 2 during the capping/uncapping operation, typically a vice or some other clamping mechanism will be utilized.
With reference now to
Each one of the pivotable arms 28 comprises a generally triangular shaped guide assembly 34 (see
A vertically lower most end of each guide assembly 34 has a cylindrical sleeve 41 which receives, surrounds and accommodates an intermediate portion of the rotatable drive shaft 38 to facilitate rotational retention thereof. One or more internal bearings, or some other low friction element (not shown in detail), is typically accommodated within and/or lines an inwardly facing surface of the cylindrical sleeve 41 of the guide assembly 34 to facilitate rotation of the drive shaft 38 relative thereto. It is to be appreciated that a variety of other conventional bearings, e.g., needle bearings, or other low friction elements or members may be utilized in order to facilitate rotation of the drive shaft 38 relative to the cylindrical sleeve 41 of the guide assembly 34 without causing any excessive drag or friction therebetween.
A rotatable wheel 26 is releasably coupled to a vertically lower most first end of each drive shaft 38 while an opposite second end of each drive shaft 38 extends and passes through the cylindrical sleeve 41 of the guide assembly 34 and is connected with a first portion of a drive shaft pivot 40, such as a constant velocity knuckle or other pivotable joint, which facilitates transfer of rotational drive as well as assists with permitting the desired movement or pivoting motion of the drive shaft 38 relative to the main support 8. As a result of such arrangement, any movement of the guide assembly 34 is correspondingly transferred and conveyed, by the cylindrical sleeve 41 of the guide assembly 34, directly to the drive shaft 38 while the drive shaft 38 and the rotatable wheel 26 are still permitted to rotate relative to the guide assembly 34.
It is to be appreciated that the guide assembly pivots 32 and the associated drive shaft pivots 40, or constant velocity knuckles or other pivotable joints, permit each one of respective pivotable arms 28, e.g., the drive shaft 38 and the guide assembly 34, to pivot along a confined predetermined arcuate path P (see
With reference now to
A vertically lower first end of a plate piston shaft 48, of a constrictor plate cylinder 52, is connected to a central region of the constrictor plate 42, e.g., by a bolt or a screw 53 extending through a central opening of the constrictor plate 42 (see
The cap engagement mechanism generally comprises the constrictor plate cylinder 52, the plate piston shaft 48, the constrictor plate 42 and the pivotable arms 28.
It is to be appreciated that other implementations of this concept could utilize, for example, linkages with pivots, more closely resembling arms of an umbrella in order to cause the free ends of the pivotable arms 28 move along their desired arcuate paths or some other related or similar path of the pivotable arms 28, e.g., radial. For example, other arrangements may also include linear constricting devices arranged in a radial fashion, such as linear slides, linear cam actuation, rotary cam actuation, spiral cam actuation or other conventional methods or mechanisms for attaining generally radially inward and/or radially outward movement. The important aspect is that at least one of the wheels 26 generally moves away from the at least one other wheel, in a disengaging first direction, while also having the ability of the at least one wheel to move toward at least one other wheel, in an engaging second direction.
A second portion of the drive shaft pivot 40, or the constant velocity knuckle or pivotable joint, is connected to a respective slave pulley 54′ (see
A pulley engaging drive surface of the flexible drive belt 56 may be provided with gripping teeth or grooves. The master pulley 54 and each one of slave pulleys 54′ typically each have a grooved exterior surface (see
As shown in
Operation of the cap securing apparatus 2 generally occurs as follows. An operator will first adjust the relative spacing position or engagement height S between the wheels 26, supported by the main support 8, and the support base 4 of the cap securing apparatus 2, in the event that such vertical adjustment is necessary. Assuming that a vertical lowering adjustment is required, the operator first places the container 22 with a cap 24 to be secured/unsecured thereto on the support base 4 and then loosens the post clamp 20 and rotates the elevation lead screw crank 18 in a desired rotational direction, such as the counterclockwise direction, which lowers the main support 8 along the guidepost 10 and, in turn, the wheels 26 supported by the pivotable arms 28, until the wheels 26 are located so as to sufficiently and suitably engage with the lateral surface 30 of the cap 24 to be capped/uncapped, e.g., the wheels 26 will preferably engage with an intermediate portion of the lateral surface 30, e.g., between a lower most peripheral edge and an upper most peripheral edge, of the cap 24 to be capped/uncapped. Once the cap securing apparatus 2 is suitably adjusted, rotation of the elevation lead screw crank 18 is discontinued and the post clamp 20 is then re-tightened to lock the adjusted position of the main support 8 relative to the post-assembly 6 and the support base 4.
In the event that a vertically taller container is to be capped/uncapped, the operator loosens the post clamp 20 and then rotates the elevation lead screw crank 18 in a desired rotational direction, such as the clockwise direction, to sufficiently raise the relative position of the wheels 26, supported by the main support 8, so that the operator can then place the container 22 with the cap 24 to be capped/uncapped onto the support base 4. Once the container 22 with the cap 24 to be capped/uncapped can be placed upon the support base 4, then the operator rotates the elevation lead screw crank 18, in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction, to provide any desired fine tuning adjustment so that the wheels 26 will sufficiently and suitably engage with the lateral surface 30 of the cap 24 to be capped/uncapped, e.g., the wheels 26 will preferably engage with an intermediate portion of the lateral surface 30 of the cap 24. Once the cap securing apparatus 2 is suitably adjusted, the post clamp 20 is then re-tightened to lock the main support 8 in the adjusted position relative to the guidepost 10 of the post-assembly 6 and the support base 4 and prevent any undesired relative movement therebetween.
As shown in
It is to be appreciated that the cap securing apparatus 2, according to the present invention, may be substantially automated. That is, the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72 may comprise some type of conventional sensor, switch, button, actuator, sensor, detector, etc., which either detects or senses the presence of a bottle or a container 22 on the support base 4 or resting against the V-block 27 and, upon detecting or sensing the bottle or container 22 on the support base 4 or against the V-block 27, automatically triggers actuation and cycling of the cap securing apparatus 2. Alternatively, a button, a switch or an actuator may be located on either the support base 4 or against the V-block 27 and such button, switch or actuator will be automatically actuated or depressed upon the operator placing the bottle or container 22 on the support base 4 or against the V-block 27 thereby automatically triggering actuation and cycling of the cap securing apparatus 2.
A main valve 73 controls the flow of the pressurized air or fluid from the source of compressed or pressurized air or fluid 74 to the cap securing apparatus 2. After passing through the main valve 73, the pressurized air or fluid branches into two flow paths, i.e., a first flow path flows to the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72 while a second flow path flows to the air motor 60.
The pressurized air or fluid actuator 72, in the event that it is a foot pedal, may be located on the floor or on some other desired surface, typically for actuation or depression by the foot of the operator. In the spring biased non-depressed state shown in
When the main valve 73 is opened and the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72 remains unactuated, the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72 typically supplies the pressurized air or fluid to an air motor activation cylinder 77 which deactivates and maintains the air motor activation cylinder 77 in a vertically lower most position which, in turn, avoids activation of the air motor 60. As diagrammatically shown, the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72 also supplies the pressurized air or fluid from the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72 to the lower most first portion of the constrictor plate cylinder 52 so as to drive the constrictor plate piston 50 in a vertically upward direction, away from the support base 4, and into its vertically uppermost position within the constrictor plate cylinder 52, as shown in
Adjustment of the first adjustable knob 80, of the air or fluid first regulator 76, in a first direction, increases the supply pressure of the compressed air or fluid which supplied to the constrictor plate cylinder 52, as well as the air motor activation cylinder 77, and thereby increases the clamping force that the constrictor plate 42 and, in turn, the pivotable arms 28 and the wheels 26 can exert on the cap 24 to be capped to or uncapped from the container 22 while adjustment of the air or fluid first regulator 76, in the opposite direction, decreases the supply pressure of the compressed air or fluid which supplied to the constrictor plate cylinder 52 and the air motor activation cylinder 77 and thereby decreases the clamping force that the constrictor plate 42 and the wheels 26 can exert on the cap 24 to be capped to or uncapped from the container 22.
As shown in
As mentioned above, the pressurized air or fluid also flows along the second flow path to the air motor 60. An air or fluid regulator 84 is located along the supply line, typically between the main valve 73 and the air motor 60 so as to facilitate adjustment of the supply pressure of the pressurized air or fluid to be supplied to the air motor 60. A second adjustable knob 94, of the air or fluid second regulator 84, facilitates adjustment of the supply pressure of the pressurized air or fluid. In addition, an air or motor filter 85 and/or an air motor lubricator 86 may also be provided along the supply path between the main valve 73 and the air motor 60.
When the operator actuates or depresses the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72, the supply of the compressed or pressurized air or fluid thus flows to the upper most second portion of the constrictor plate cylinder 52 while the first portion of the constrictor plate cylinder 52 may be vented to atmosphere in order to facilitate venting and/or relieving any residual pressure contained therein. The compressed or pressurized air or fluid supply to the second end of the constrictor plate cylinder 52, in turn, drives the constrictor plate piston 50 in a vertically downward direction toward the support base 4 and toward the opposite end of the constrictor plate cylinder 52. Such motion of the constrictor plate piston 50 also simultaneously causes the constrictor plate 42 to move simultaneously vertically downward toward the support base 4 and, in turn, simultaneously causes each one of the pivotable arms 28 to be simultaneously drawn radially inward, along their respective arcuate paths, toward one another and toward any centrally located cap 24 to be capped/uncapped relative to the container 22. That is, the rollers 46 move vertically downward along with the constrictor plate 42 and roll along the inwardly facing surfaces of the inclined slots 36 of the associated guide assemblies 34 and thereby draw the associated guides assemblies 34 radially inward toward one another and induce a corresponding movement of the pivotable arms 28 generally radially inwardly, along their respective arcuate paths, into their engaged positions with the cap 24, as generally shown in
At the same time that operator actuates or depresses the pressurized air or fluid actuator 72, the pressurized air or fluid also flows to opposite end of the air motor activation cylinder 77 which, in turn, initiates temporary activation of the air motor 60. The air motor activation cylinder 77 actuates the air motor 60 by forcing one end of the lever 89 located adjacent a top portion of the air motor 60 so that the opposite end of the lever 89 biases or pushes the drive shaft 71, e.g., a 1/4″ hex shaft using an arrangement of thrust washers and pins, essentially creating a throw-out bearing (not shown in detail), of the air motor 60 vertically downward. The hex shaft is a ball spline and, as is well known in the art, a ball spline is a specialized shaft that transmits torque but allows low friction axial movement. Such downward motion of the drive shaft 71 also simultaneously biases a long slender activation rod 99 through a center of the air motor 60 and toward the opposed bottom end the air motor 60. Such movement of the activation rod 99, in turn, opens a valve 88 located within the bottom of the air motor 60 which permits the compressed or pressurized air or fluid to flow into the vane type air motor 60. The compressed or pressurized air or fluid causes the vane type air motor 60 to rotate in a desired rotational direction and at a desired rotational speed thereby turning the three sets of planetary gears (not labeled) and generating the desired rotational drive.
As soon as a preset torque is reached, the balls within a clutch roll or along a ramp thereby compressing a preload spring. Such vertical motion within the clutch mechanism 90 lifts the activation rod 99 and forces the activation rod 99 vertically upward toward a vertically upper portion of the air motor 60. This, in turn, also causes the valve 88, located within the base of the air motor 60, to close and thereby interrupt the flow of compressed or pressurized air or fluid to the air motor 60 and causes rotation of the air motor 60 to discontinue and the drive shaft 71 is again correctly positioned for another cycle. The air motor 60 typically only operates at the desired rotational speed and in the desired rotational direction for a short duration of time, typically less between about 0.5 seconds to about two seconds or so.
The system is typically provided with a selector valve that diverts the supplied compressed or pressurized air or fluid to one side or the other of the air motor 60 so as to facilitate creating either a clockwise or a counter clockwise rotation of the air motor. In addition, a desired tightening torque of the air motor 60 can be adjusted by varying a spring preload on the clutch mechanism, using the large grooved wheel at the top of the air motor 60.
The hex shaped output, which is attached to the drive shaft 71 of the air motor 60, has three semi-circular grooves cut into it to accept a row of steel balls. A hollow pulley shaft, which is coaxial with the drive shaft 71 of the air motor 60, also has three matching or mating semi-circular grooves. The balls make contact between these grooves and transmit the torque, while the grooves allow the balls and hex shaft to move easily along the axis of rotation.
As noted above, the drive air shaft 71 of the air motor 60 is coupled to and drives the master drive pulley 54 which, in turn, is directly connected with the flexible drive belt 56 so as to supply rotational drive to the flexible drive belt 56 and, in turn, to each one of the four slave pulleys 54′ engaged with the flexible belt 56. Consequently, the flexible drive belt 56 can simultaneously drive each of the slave pulleys 54′ at the same rotational speed upon rotation of the drive belt 56.
As also described above, each respective slave pulley 54′, in turn, rotates a respective drive shaft 38 and the wheel 26 supported adjacent the free end thereof, via the drive shaft pivot 40, e.g., the constant velocity knuckle or pivotable joint. Each one of the rotating wheels 26 then engages with the outwardly facing lateral surface 30 of the cap 24 and thereby induces desired rotation of the cap 24 for capped/uncapped the cap 24 with respect to the container 22.
It is to be appreciated that if the wheels 26 are rotated in a first rotational direction, the wheels 26 can be utilized for capping, tightening, torquing or securing the cap 24 to the container 22. Alternatively, if the wheels 26 are rotated in a second opposite rotational direction, the wheels 26 can be utilized to facilitate uncapping, loosening, untorquing unsecuring the cap 24 from the container 22. During such rotation of the cap 24 relative to the container 22, the operator may hold the container 22, if desired or necessary, to prevent rotation of the container 22 relative to the support base 4 as the cap 24 is capped/uncapped, or use a vise or V-block 27/lateral guides 29 arrangement as discussed above.
Once the cap 24 is sufficiently capped/uncapped with respect to the threaded opening of the container 22, the operator then removes his/her foot, thumb(s) or finger(s) from the pressured air or fluid actuator 72. As the pressured air or fluid actuator 72 returns back to its fully extended undepressed position, the compressed or pressurized or air or fluid from the pressured air or fluid actuator 72 is then again supplied to the first portion end of the constrictor plate cylinder 52. Such supply of compressed or pressurized or air or fluid to the first portion of the constrictor plate cylinder 52, in turn, biases and returns the constrictor plate piston 50, connected to the constrictor plate 42, vertically upward away from the support base 4, thereby causing the pivotable arms 28 to pivot substantially radially outward, along their respective arcuate paths, from their engaged second position, shown in
In addition, at the same time, the supply of the compressed or pressured air or fluid to the air motor activation cylinder 77 is also supplied to the opposite end of the activation cylinder 77 so as to avoid activation of the air motor 60. As described above, it is to be appreciated that rotation of the wheels 26, for capping/uncapping the cap 24, is automatically terminated after a short duration of time following actuation of the compressed air or fluid actuator 72, e.g., only a few seconds, regardless of whether or not the compressed air or fluid actuator 72 still remains depressed.
With reference now to
Once the constrictor plate 42 is biased into and reaches its vertically lowermost or end position, each one of the pivotable arms 28 is moved into its fully engaged second position with the cap 24, as shown in
Such radially inward movement of the pivotable arms 28 also assists with any desired or necessary minor centering or repositioning of the cap 24, between each one of the plurality of wheels 26, as the cap 24 is threadedly capped to or threadedly uncapped from the container 22 and such centering or repositioning of the cap 24 compensates for any initial small misalignment of the container 22 on the support base 4 relative to the wheels 26.
It is to be appreciated that the length of stroke of each one of the pivotable arms 28 can be adjusted by adjustment of a movable stop 82 (see
The range of motion of the wheels 26 can be adjusted by merely observing an indicator on the front of the cap securing apparatus 2 (not shown). This indicator typically has two scales and a first scale, e.g., the left scale, is calibrated for smaller wheels (e.g., wheels which have a diameter of approximately 25 mm, for example), while the second scale, e.g., the right scale, is calibrated for larger wheel assemblies (e.g., wheel assemblies which have a diameter of approximately 50 mm, for example). If desired, a third scale may be provided for intermediate wheels (e.g., wheel assemblies which have a diameter of approximately 37.5 mm, for example).
Another feature of the cap securing apparatus 2 is a quick releasable lock 91, as shown in
Following placement of a new wheel 26 on the cylindrical surface of the drive shaft 38, the spring loaded button 92 is then release and the radially inwardly partially retracted locking ball(s) 93 are then biased radially outwardly so as to seat against an internal annular groove formed on an inwardly facing hub of the wheel 26 and thereby lock the wheel 26 to the remote free end of the pivotable arm 28. The function of the ball(s) 93 is similar to that of a locking ball commonly found on a square drive ratchet. This arrangement facilitates rapid replacement and/or changeover from one wheel 26 to another so that the cap securing apparatus 2 can quickly and easily be modified or adapted to accommodate caps 24 having different shapes and sizes and/or having a wide array of different auxiliary features or components such as a pump, a spray button, etc. It is to be appreciated that the larger diameter wheels 26 are generally used when the cap 24 to be secured includes a large spray head, a pump spout, or some other protruding feature(s) or component(s) which may contact or otherwise interfere with the desired operation of the pivotable arms 28. The larger diameter wheels 26 assist with adequately spacing the pivotable arms 28 from any protruding spray head, pump spout, or other feature(s) or component(s) of the cap 24 so that such protruding spray head, pump spout, or other feature(s) or component(s) do not hinder or obstruction reliable securing of the cap 24 to the container 22.
The cap securing apparatus 2 may be provided with a convenient wheel storage post (not shown), located adjacent a rear section of the support base 4 of the cap securing apparatus 2, for temporarily storing an adequate supply of wheels 26 that are not currently being used and/or storing an adequate supply of replacement wheels 26. Such wheel storage post also facilitates rapid replacement of the wheels 26 once they become sufficiently worn, distorted or otherwise require repair or replacement. The unused or extra wheels 26 are merely stacked, one on top of the other, on the wheel storage post until the wheels 26 are otherwise needed or required.
A pair of adjustable guide arms 96 are adjustably supported by a bracket 98 which is adjustably connected to and along the guide rod 79 of the main support 8 (see
It is to be appreciated that the cap securing apparatus 2 as well as the various motors and/or cylinders of the cap securing apparatus 2 may alternatively be driven by one or more electric motor(s) and associated gearing, one or more pneumatic motor(s) and cylinders, one or more hydraulic motor(s) and cylinder(s), manual levers and/or various combinations thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As discussed above, the support base 4 of the securing apparatus 2 may include a vice or some other conventional clamping mechanism which facilitates securing the desired container 22 to the support base 4 in a secure but releasable manner so as to prevent or minimize, at the very least, rotation of the container 22 while the cap 24 is either being secured thereto or uncapped therefrom. Such clamping mechanism provides further utility and safety when an operator utilizes the cap securing apparatus 2 according to the present invention.
In the above description and appended drawings, it is to be appreciated that only the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to be construed in the limitative sense while all other terms are to be construed as being open-ended and given the broadest possible meaning.
The terms “cap” and “container,” as used above and within the appended claims, are intended to be both given the broadest interpretation and meaning possible. This is, although the present invention is generally described, throughout this patent application, as being suitable for capping or uncapping a conventional cap with respect to a conventional bottle or a container, it is to be appreciated that the present invention has a variety of other applications. For example, the present invention would also be useful with respect to providing rotation of a first component (e.g., a cap, fastener, etc.), in a desired rotational direction, relative to a stationary second component (e.g., a container, a bottle, a surface, etc.). or example, the present invention may be utilized for driving a screw, or some other desired fastener, either into or out of a desired second stationary surface.
Since certain changes may be made in the above described cap securing apparatus, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61480576 | Apr 2011 | US |
