Container lid loading apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518917-B2
Application number	US-201715657372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2017
Priority date	Oct 18, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for loading stacks of container lids into an associated lid-applying apparatus, as typically found in a container filling facility. The apparatus includes a reciprocably movable carriage which is positioned generally above the lid-applying apparatus. The carriage can be positioned in a first, loading position, which is generally offset from the apparatus for convenient placement of the lid stacks by operators. The carriage can then be moved over the lid-applying apparatus to a second, unloading position. The carriage includes movable lid supports, which then open to release the lid stacks downwardly onto the lid-applying apparatus. In the preferred form, vertically movable lid cradles extend upwardly from the lid-applying apparatus, and receive the lid stacks from beneath carriage. The cradles then move downwardly, carrying the lid stacks downwardly, for transfer of the stacks onto the lid-applying apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for loading container lids on a lid-applying machine having a plurality of lid-receiving members that support accumulated lids in a plurality of stacks spaced from each other along a first line for subsequent application of the lids to containers, the apparatus comprising:
a reciprocable carriage mounted for movement between a first, loading position, and a second, unloading position,
said carriage including a plurality of lid supports each being movable between a closed position and an opened position,
wherein in said first, loading position of said carriage, and with said lid supports in the closed position, a plurality of spaced stacks of container lids are placed on said carriage,
said carriage thereafter being movable to said second, unloading position, and said lid supports moved to said opened position, whereby first and second of said stacks of container lids are discharged from said carriage and are received on said lid-receiving members at first and second locations spaced along the first line to replenish existing stacks or define new stacks of lids on the lid-receiving member at the first and second locations.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , including
a plurality of vertically-movable stacked-lid cradles,
said stacked-lid cradles being vertically movable in unison between a raised position in which the cradles project upwardly of said lid-receiving members, and a lowered positioned generally beneath said lid-receiving members,
said stacked-lid cradles being movable to said raised position for receiving stacks of lids from said carriage when said carriage is in said second, unloading position, and said lid supports are in said opened position for discharging the stacks of lids from said carriage to said stacked-lid cradles, said stacked-lid cradles thereafter being movable to said lowered position so that the stacks of lids are transferred from said stacked-lid cradles to said lid-receiving members.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , including
an actuation cam positioned adjacent to said carriage for operation of said lid supports, said actuation cam moving said lid supports from said closed position to said opened position when said carriage is moved into said second, unloading position.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , wherein
said carriage includes a linkage operatively connecting said plurality of lid supports for movement together, and a cam follower operatively connected to said linkage and engageable with said actuation cam for moving said lid supports in unison from said closed position to said opening position when said carriage is moved into said second, unloading position.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lid supports each is movable from the closed position into the opened position as an incident of the carriage moving from the first, loading position into the second, unloading position.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein with the carriage in the first, loading position and a plurality of spaced stacks of containers on the carriage, the plurality of spaced stacks of containers are above accumulated lids on the lid-receiving members.

7. An apparatus for loading container lids on a lid-applying machine having a plurality of lid-receiving members that support accumulated lids in a plurality of stacks spaced from each other along a first line for subsequent application of the lids to containers, the apparatus comprising:
a reciprocable carriage mounted for movement between a first, loading position, and a second, unloading position,
said carriage including a spaced-apart plurality of lid supports each being movable between a closed position and an opened position,
wherein in said first, loading position of said carriage, and with said lid supports in the closed position thereof, a plurality of spaced stacks of container lids are placed on said carriage,
said carriage thereafter being movable to said second, unloading position, and said lid supports moved to said opened position, whereby first and second of said stacks of container lids are discharged from said carriage; and
a plurality of vertically-movable stacked-lid cradles,
said stacked-lid cradles being vertically movable in unison between a raised position in which the stacked-lid cradles project upwardly of said lid-receiving members, and a lowered positioned generally beneath said lid-receiving members,
said stacked-lid cradles being movable to said raised position for receiving stacks of lids from said carriage when said carriage is in said second, unloading position, and said lid supports are in said opened position for discharging the stacks of lids from said carriage to said stacked-lid cradles, said stacked-lid cradles thereafter being movable to said lowered position so that the stacks of lids are transferred from said stacked-lid cradles to said lid-receiving members.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , including
an actuation cam positioned adjacent to said carriage for operation of said lid supports, and a cam follower operatively connected to said plurality of lid supports and engageable with said actuation cam for moving said lid supports in unison from said closed position to said opening position when said carriage is moved into said second, unloading position, said actuation cam moving said lid supports from said closed position to said opened position when said carriage is moved into said second, unloading position.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Mueller Martin J

Classifications

• B65B35/46

  by rotary conveyors · CPC title

• B65B35/50 Primary

  Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging · CPC title

• B65B35/26

  by rotary conveyors · CPC title

• B65B43/60

  rotatable · CPC title

• B65B7/2807 Primary

  Feeding closures · CPC title