Turret for bottle capping machine

Abstract

The present invention overcomes the above-perceived problems associated with the known art. The present invention provides an efficient capping machine with an improved turret that may be retrofitted to existing capping machines or included as an integral component of a new capping machine. The improved capping machine includes a rotatable turret that is significantly smaller than conventional bottling turrets. The improved turret utilizes fewer moving parts and it has a smaller mass that enables the turret to rotate more efficiently while requiring less power. The improved capping machine includes a rotating turret section coupled to a mounting plate and support. A cap delivery chute assembly is associated therewith. The improved turret includes a rotatable frame secured to an elevation shaft of the central hub via a torsion bearing assembly. The rotatable frame is driven by a bull gear associated with the capping machine. Preferably, a plurality of spindles, generally at least two or more, are regularly spaced about the periphery of the turret. Each spindle secures a screw-on cap to a respective bottle during turret rotation. The bull gear drives each spindle as the turret rotates about the central hub. Ordinarily, each spindle secures a screw-on cap to a bottle during slightly less than one revolution of the turret about the capping machine. Each spindle includes a spindle cylinder secured to the turret by an upper plate and a lower plate. Each spindle cylinder includes a mobile spindle piston that moves vertically inside the spindle cylinder. An elongated spindle shaft is secured to the piston. An important feature of the invention is the ability to remove an entire spindle unit from the turret. This facilitates more efficient maintenance while decreasing down time. The spindle shaft has upper and lower terminal ends. The upper terminal end of the spindle shaft includes a spindle gear that is driven by the bull gear. The lower terminal end of the spindle shaft includes a capping head secured thereto for screwing caps onto a bottle. An intermediate cam follower is secured to the spindle shaft. The cam follower is secured to the piston which is rotationally secured by brass slides. The spindle rotates inside the stationery piston. During turret rotation, the spindle piston moves vertically in the spindle cylinder as the spindle follower traverses a track defined in an inner cam secured to the central hub. In many conventional bottling machines, the spindle moves upwardly and downwardly in response to the cam follower as the turret rotates about the cam between an upper dwell and a lower dwell where the cap is screwed on to the bottle. The present invention works similarly. The rotating turret is driven by a peripheral gear upon the central hub. As the turret rotates, the bull gear drives the spindle gears to rotate the spindle shafts. The cam follower on each spindle shaft follows the cam track on the central cam to raise and lower the spindle as is the conventional manner. As the spindle passes the cap delivery assembly, the capping head picks up a bottle cap for subsequent application to a bottle. The associated cap delivery assembly places respective bottle caps adjacent rotating bottles beneath the capping head during the descent from the upper dwell to the lower dwell such that the cap may enter the capping head in a conventional fashion for subsequent placement upon the bottle. The capping turret as well as the cap delivery assembly are synchronized so that caps are delivered during the proper sequence of events to be loaded into the capping head as the capping head moves past the cap delivery assembly region. After a cap is inserted into the capping head, the capping head moves to an upper position above the bottle top for subsequent application of the screw-on closure to the bottle. As the turret continues to rotate, the cam follower descends in the cam track to lower the spindle shaft and capping head with captured closure upon the upright bottle. During the entire procedure, the capping head and spindle shaft rotate so that the bottle closure is already rotating as it descends upon the bottle threaded neck adjacent the bottle top. The capping head secures the closure to the bottle with the application of sufficient torque to ensure retention thereof.

1 . An improved turret or a bottle capping machine as described hereinabove.