Universal container capper/decapper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878890-B2
Application number	US-200913129199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2009
Priority date	Nov 14, 2008
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A universal container capper/decapper includes a capper/decapper assembly, and an axial actuator. The capper/decapper assembly comprises a capper/decapper housing, and at least one gripper arm. The capper/decapper housing has an axis of rotation. Each gripper arm has a driven end, a gripper end, and a knee portion intermediate the driven end and the gripper end. Each gripper arm is pivotally coupled to the housing proximate the knee portion. The axial actuator is coupled to each driven end and is configured to drive each gripper end in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation by rotating each gripper arm about the respective knee portion relative to the housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A universal container capper/decapper comprising:
a capper/decapper assembly comprising a capper/decapper housing having an axis of rotation, and at least one gripper arm, the at least one gripper arm having a driven end, a gripper end, and a knee portion intermediate the driven end and the gripper end, the at least one gripper arm being pivotally coupled to the capper/decapper housing proximate the knee portion at a first location;
the driven end extending radially inwardly from the knee portion toward the axis of rotation such that the driven end of the at least one gripper arm crosses the axis of rotation of the housing; and
an axial actuator coupled to the driven end of the gripper arm at a second location,
wherein, when the axial actuator is actuated, the second location translates in an axial direction with the axial actuator and the gripper end is driven in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the capper/decapper housing by pivoting the gripper arm about the knee portion relative to the housing.

2. The container capper/decapper according to claim 1 , wherein the axial actuator is configured to rotate the at least one gripper arm by driving the driven end in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

3. The container capper/decapper according to claim 2 , wherein the capper/decapper assembly further comprises a yoke disposed within the housing, and the driven end is pivotally coupled to the yoke.

4. The container capper/decapper according to claim 3 , wherein the axial actuator comprises a rod actuator coupled to the yoke and configured to drive the driven end by moving the yoke in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

5. The container capper/decapper according to claim 2 , wherein the capper/decapper housing comprises a side wall, the side wall includes at least one radially-extending channel, and the at least one gripper arm is pivotally received within the at least one radially-extending channel.

6. The container capper/decapper according to claim 1 , wherein the capper/decapper assembly further comprises a yoke disposed within the housing, and the driven end is pivotally coupled to the yoke.

7. The container capper/decapper according to claim 6 , wherein the axial actuator comprises a rod actuator coupled to the yoke and configured to drive the driven end by moving the yoke in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

8. The container capper/decapper according to claim 7 , wherein the rod actuator comprises an elongate shaft, and a linear actuator coupled to the elongate shaft, the elongate shaft being coupled to the yoke.

9. The container capper/decapper according to claim 8 , wherein the rod actuator further comprises a spring actuator mechanism coupled to the elongate shaft and configured to urge the gripper end radially inwards.

10. The container capper/decapper according to claim 9 , wherein the spring actuator mechanism comprises a coil spring disposed around the elongate shaft and coupled at one end to the elongate shaft and at an opposite end to the capper/decapper housing.

11. The container capper/decapper according to claim 6 , wherein the capper/decapper housing comprises a side wall, the side wall includes at least one radially-extending channel, and the at least one gripper arm is pivotally received within the at least one radially-extending channels.

12. The container capper/decapper according to claim 1 , wherein the capper/decapper housing comprises a side wall, the side wall includes at least one radially-extending channel, and the at least one gripper arm is pivotally received within the at least one radially-extending channel.

13. The container capper/decapper according to claim 12 , wherein the capper/decapper housing further comprises a base plate disposed at a lower end of the side wall, the base plate comprising at least one radially-extending slot, the at least one radially-extending slot being aligned with the at least one radially-extending channel and being configured to receive the gripper end therein.

14. The container capper/decapper according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotational actuator coupled to the axial actuator for rotating the capper/decapper assembly about the axis of rotation.

15. The container capper/decapper according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the at least one gripper arm disposed substantially equidistantly around the capper/decapper housing.

16. The container capper/decapper according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one gripper arm has a substantially L-shape.

17. A universal container capper/decapper comprising:
a capper/decapper assembly comprising a housing having an axis of rotation and a plurality of gripper arms each having a driven end, a gripper end, and a knee portion disposed between the gripper end and driven end, the knee portions being pivotally coupled to the housing, and the driven ends extending radially inwardly from the knee portions toward the axis of rotation such that the driven ends of the gripper arms cross the axis of rotation of the housing wherein the driven ends are coupled to an axial actuator at opposite sides of the axis of rotation;
wherein the axial actuator so coupled is configured to drive the gripper ends in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation by pivoting the gripper arms about the knee portions.

18. The universal container capper/decapper of claim 17 , wherein:
the axial actuator comprises a yoke, a rod actuator and a housing damper,
the driven ends are pivotally coupled to the yoke,
the rod actuator is coupled to and extends from the yoke, and
the housing damper includes a coil spring and tubular member each surrounding at least a portion of the rod actuator.

19. The universal container capper/decapper of claim 17 , wherein the axial actuator comprises a yoke having a plurality of arms extending from a central body portion, the plurality of arms are spaced at intervals about the axis of rotation, and each of the driven ends are pivotally coupled to a corresponding arm of the yoke.

20. A universal container capper/decapper comprising:
a housing having an axis of rotation and first and second gripper arms each having a driven end, a gripper end, and a knee portion intermediate the driven end and gripper end, each knee portion being pivotally coupled to the housing and each driven end extending from the knee portions in a transverse direction relative to the axis of rotation such that the driven end of the first gripper arm crosses the driven end of the second gripper arm such that the driven ends of the first and second gripper arms are coupled to an axial actuator at locations opposite the axis of rotation;
wherein the axial actuator is so coupled such that actuation of the axial actuator pivots the first and second gripper arms about the knee portions.

21. The universal container capper/decapper of claim 20 , wherein:
the axial actuator includes a yoke,
the knee portion of the first gripper arm is coupled to the housing at a first location, and
the driven end of the first gripper arm is pivotally coupled to the yoke at a second location beyond the axis of rotation from the first location.

22. The universal container capper/decapper of claim 20 , wherein the axial actuator comprises a yoke having first and second arms extending from a central body portion, the first and second arms are spaced at intervals about the axis of rotation, and the

Assignees

• Mikhailov Sergey
• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Mikhailov Sergey

Classifications

• G01N2035/0405

  manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers · CPC title

• B67B3/20

  by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (forming threads in situ by resilient deforming means B67B3/16, by rotary capping heads B67B3/18) · CPC title

• B01L3/50825

  Closing or opening means, corks, bungs · CPC title

• B67B7/182 Primary

  power-operated · CPC title