Apparatus for applying a multi-can engagement collar to a group of beverage cans

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12145757-B2
Application number	US-202217888004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2022
Priority date	Mar 1, 2018
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus for applying an engagement collar to a group of articles, which includes an application area defining a horizontal support surface for receiving a group of articles, a horizontal press plate positioned above the support surface and mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface, and an actuation assembly operatively connected to the press plate for moving the press plate relative to the support surface to apply an engagement collar to the group of articles positioned on the support surface within the application area, wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation lever that is located below the press plate and in front of the application area to provide an ergonomic work environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an application area defining a horizontal support surface for receiving a group of articles;
a horizontal press plate positioned above the support surface and mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface;
an applicator plate adapted and configured for positioning between the horizontal press plate and an engagement collar; and
an actuation assembly operatively connected to the horizontal press plate for moving the horizontal press plate in a vertical direction causing the applicator plate to apply the engagement collar to the group of articles positioned on the support surface within the application area,
wherein the applicator plate comprises a plurality of apertures and is a single plate that extends horizontally so as to be substantially parallel to the horizontal press plate upon actuation for applying the engagement collar to the group of articles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a mechanism for selectively adjusting an initial height of the press plate relative to the support surface to accommodate articles of varying size.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a support frame having a pair of stanchions extending vertically upward from the support surface and a support shaft extending horizontally between the pair of stanchions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises a rocker arm mounted for rotation about the support shaft, and wherein a front end portion of the rocker arm is operatively connected to the horizontal press plate and a rear end portion of the rocker arm is operatively connected to an actuation lever.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the mechanism for selectively adjusting the initial height of the horizontal press plate includes a threaded ram shaft that extends vertically upward from the horizontal press plate and is mounted for movement relative to a pivot block that connects the ram shaft to the front end portion of the rocker arm in response to rotation of a pair of adjustable bolts positioned above and below the pivot block forcing the horizontal press plate to move in the vertical direction against the applicator plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a support frame configured to retain the applicator plate prior to moving the press plate in the vertical direction against the applicator plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the support frame comprises a pair of stanchions extending vertically upward from the support surface and a support shaft extending horizontally between the pair of stanchions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises an actuation lever that is located below the press plate in front of the application area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises a rocker arm mounted for rotation about the support shaft, and wherein a front end portion of the rocker arm is operatively connected to the horizontal press plate and a rear end portion of the rocker arm is operatively connected to a rear end portion of the actuation lever.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the actuation assembly further includes a ram shaft extending vertically upward from the horizontal press plate and including a pivot block to operatively connect the ram shaft to the front end portion of the rocker arm.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the ram shaft is configured as a threaded shaft mounted for movement relative to the pivot block to adjust an initial height of the horizontal press plate relative to the support surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the initial height of the actuation lever is adjusted by an extendible and retractable turnbuckle assembly operatively extending between the rear end portion of the rocker arm and the actuation lever.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a downward movement of the actuation lever causes the turnbuckle assembly to pivot the rocker arm about the support shaft causing the ram shaft to turn downwardly forcing the horizontal press plate to move in the vertical direction against the applicator plate.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the support frame further includes an outrigger extending horizontally forward from each stanchion, and wherein each outrigger includes a sleeve bearing that supports a guide shaft extending vertically upward from the horizontal press plate.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the front end of each outrigger is adapted and configured to retain the applicator plate prior to the applicator plate being positioned between the press plate and the engagement collar.

16. An apparatus comprising:
a) an application area defining a horizontal support surface for receiving a group of articles;
b) horizontal press plate positioned above the support surface and mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface;
c) an actuation assembly operatively connected to the horizontal press plate, wherein the actuation assembly comprises a support frame;
d) a multi-can engagement collar positioned above the actuation assembly in a stowed position; and
e) an applicator plate retained substantially perpendicular to the support frame in a stowed position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the support frame comprises a pair of stanchions extending vertically upward from the support surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprises a rack mounted on top of the stanchions, wherein the rack is adapted and configured to hold the multi-can engagement collar.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the support frame comprises an outrigger beam extending horizontally forward from the respective stanchions, wherein the outrigger beams are adapted and configured to retain the applicator plate in the stowed position.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein in a use position, the multi-can engagement collar is adapted and configured for positioning into the applicator plate and the applicator plate is adapted and configured for positioning between the horizontal press plate and the multi-can engagement collar, wherein in the use position, the actuator assembly is configured to move the horizontal press plate relative to the support surface to apply the multi-can engagement collar to the group of articles positioned on the support surface within the application area.

Assignees

• Westrock Packaging Systems Llc

Inventors

• Kooc Linh L
• Zacherle Matthew E

Classifications

• B65B67/00

  Apparatus or devices facilitating manual packaging operations; Sack holders · CPC title

• B65B27/04

  Bundling groups of cans or bottles · CPC title

• B65B17/025 Primary

  the articles being joined by a top carrier element · CPC title