초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for the on-demand seating of a lid on pre-formed containers that are carried on a continually moving conveyor. A lid press plate (20) is connected to a linear actuator (36) by a mounting assembly (17). The mounting assembly (17) transmits a seating force from the linear actuat

A method and apparatus for the on-demand seating of a lid on pre-formed containers that are carried on a continually moving conveyor. A lid press plate (20) is connected to a linear actuator (36) by a mounting assembly (17). The mounting assembly (17) transmits a seating force from the linear actuator (36) to the lid press plate (20) for seating the lid while simultaneously allowing the horizontal movement of the lid press plate (20) from a first position to a second position by a driving force resulting solely from the application of a seating pressure between the lid press plate (20) and the lid (46). The lid press plate moves at the same velocity as the pre-formed container during application of the seating pressure. The lid press plate (20) is returned to the first position by a biasing assembly (18), after removal of the seating pressure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of fully seating a lid on a pre-formed container including the steps of:a) sensing the presence of a pre-formed container at a selected position by means of a first sensor, the selected position being under a lid press plate and in a selected alignment therewith;

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of fully seating a lid on a pre-formed container including the steps of:a) sensing the presence of a pre-formed container at a selected position by means of a first sensor, the selected position being under a lid press plate and in a selected alignment therewith; the pre-formed container, including its lid previously placed thereon, being transported under the lid press plate in a first horizontal direction by and on a continually moving conveyor;b) advancing the lid press plate in a first vertical direction by selectively actuating a linear actuator as and when the first sensor senses the pre-formed container and lid, the lid press plate being attached to a piston rod of the linear actuator by a mounting means;c) fully seating the lid on a lip portion of the pre-formed container by applying a seating pressure to the lid by and with the lid press plate while simultaneously allowing movement of the lid press plate from a first position, said movement being in the first horizontal direction and at a same velocity as the pre-formed container and lid by means of a driving force resulting solely from the applying of the seating pressure to the lid;d) sensing the displacement of the lid press plate and the pre-formed container being transported in the first horizontal direction from the first position to a second position by and with a second sensor, the second sensor being selectively arrayed at the second position;e) retracting the lid press plate at the second position in a second vertical direction that is opposite to the first vertical direction by selectively actuating the linear actuator in response to a signal from the second sensor; andf) returning the lid press plate towards the first position solely by a selective force of a biasing means only after the lid press plate is retracted sufficiently to relieve the driving force between the lid press plate and the lid.