Package making – Closing packages and filled receptacles – Separate closure applying
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-14
2004-05-04
Rada, Rinaldi I. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Closing packages and filled receptacles
Separate closure applying
C053S348000, C053S354000, C053S353000, C081S003200, C072S453010, C072S453020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06729104
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a so-called ‘crimping/er’ and ‘decapping/er’ tool—particularly, but not exclusively, for container closures, such as used for sample vials, atomisers, infusion bottles and the like.
The closure is typically a circular cap, with a depending annular peripheral skirt, which forms a (mechanically secure) circumferential edge joint or seal with a (upstanding) neck of a container access opening.
Terminology
Crimping
The term ‘crimping’ is used herein to embrace the (re-) shaping of a deformable (wall) element, say of thin sheet material—by locally applied force—such as to bring the element profile into (close) conformity with a (rigid) contact surface.
In this way, intimate—indeed sealing—joint engagement can be achieved.
Moreover, a continuous peripheral edge seal can be effected around the circumferential rim of an access opening or mouth—vis to a container—in a singe (re-) shaping action.
Decapping
Similarly, the term ‘decapping’ is used for the ‘reverse’ process—that is (re-) shaping, or deformation, for closure cap removal from a container access opening.
Cap removal typically involves depressing a mid-portion over a container access opening about the gripped rim, to break or separate a peripheral edge seal.
In practice, it is convenient for the same operating tool—with an appropriate (demountable) working (ie workpiece contact) head—to be used selectively for either crimping or de-capping.
2. Prior Art
Crimpers and decappers, of various (jaw) sizes or capacities, for such purposes are known.
Typically a ‘plier’ type tool configuration, is adopted, of two pivotally interconnected operating handles.
One handle commonly carries, or is associated with, a crimping/er or decapping/er unit, and the other an actuator therefor.
Hitherto known crimpers and decappers suffer from various operational disadvantages—one being that they can soon tire the user, in repetitive operation.
This reflects adverse tool ergonomics, such as excessive weight or bulk, inappropriate leverage—ie mechanical advantage, required manual force and attendant handle travel—and geometry—ie path of hand movement.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The Applicant has devised a stand-mounted crimper-decapper press tool—the subject of GB 2,213,137—featuring an adjustable work unit cradle, using a long operating arm to afford significant mechanical advantage, and so alleviate operator fatigue.
The Applicant has also since devised a light-weight, (die cast metal body) ergonomic hand-held, plier type crimper-decapper, for low intensity use.
A hand tool allows mobility and thus flexibility of operation.
In certain repetitive and/or high capacity applications—such as previously associated with a stand-mounted tool—there is a requirement for a more powerful and heavy-duty hand tool.
Statement of Invention
According to one aspect of the invention, a hand held, power-operated or power-assisted, crimper and/or decapper tool, comprises
a hollow handle body, housing a fluid powered actuator;
a fluid control valve, for controlling fluid pressure supply to the actuator;
and an operating trigger for the control valve;
a transverse head portion, with a demountable connection, for an output unit, and housing a drive transfer coupling, for operative driving connection between the actuator and a mounted output unit, characterized by a pivoted bell crank, with angularly offset, differential length, lever arms, configured to impart angular displacement, and mechanical advantage, through one crank arm engaging an actuator output rod and the other engaging a drive plunger, of a (demountable) crimping/er and decapping/er unit.
Conveniently, the fluid actuator comprises a piston-in-cylinder device, with a piston coupled to an output drive rod.
In a particular construction, the handle body comprises an elongate hollow tubular body, with an angled head portion at one end and an external operating trigger.
A remote internal drive coupling, such as a push rod, between trigger and control valve, allows their location at opposite ends of the body.
Thus the trigger is conveniently ‘forward’ at the head and the control valve ‘rearward’.
Desirably, the handle body also accommodates a fluid distribution block, alongside the control valve, together configured to control the supply of fluid pressure, to an actuator drive chamber.
The handle body may also incorporate detachable (hose) connection ports for an external fluid pressure supply.
In a particular overall arrangement, internal fluid pressure within a piston-in-cylinder (drive) chamber, displaces a piston, with a linearly slidable (drive) rod, contacting one arm of a pivoted bell crank lever, to impart angular displacement, with mechanical advantage, in turn applied to a drive plunger of a crimping/er and decapping/er unit.
The piston is desirably biassed towards a distribution block at the opposite end of the handle body from the head.
The head may comprise a hollow body housing a bell crank lever, pivotally mounted to the housing wall—for example adjacent a mounting aperture for an output head assembly, such as a crimper or decapper unit or module.
In a particular construction, a relatively short lever arm of the bell crank is disposed alongside the pivot and juxtaposed with a drive plunger of a crimper or decapper unit when installed.
This leaves a relatively longer lever arm of the bell crank spanning between crank pivot and the end of the piston drive rod.
In this way, linear translational movement of the piston and entrained drive rod is transferred, through angular throw of the bell crank, to linear translational movement of an (installed) crimper/decapper drive plunger—but through an angular offset, eg of some ninety degrees.
This angular offset allows a comfortable, ergonomic hand and wrist holding position for the tool, in relation to a container with a closure to be fitted or removed, and held in the other hand.
Conveniently, the body supports a (finger-operated) squeeze or pull-action trigger, for actuating the fluid control valve.
The trigger is desirably accommodated within a guard spanning a corner quadrant between the handle body and head, with a remote trigger movement transfer rod alongside the drive chamber and between trigger at one end and control valve at the other end.
The control valve is conveniently located alongside a distribution block, itself incorporating connector fittings for fluid pressure supply.
In practice fluid drive pressure may be derived from pneumatic and/or hydraulic remote source—such as a pump, or reservoir.
The crimping and decapping unit may embody a collet-chuck, for demountable fitting of different sized crimper or decapper units.
A collet-chuck has a plurality of radially displaceable jaws and an (intervening) axially-displaceable punch, for initiating (relative) jaw movement.
Overall, such a hand-held tool can be configured as light, ergonomic and power-assisted, or power-driven—such as by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure—thereby reducing the physical effort required to carry out a crimping or decapping operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2146347 (1939-02-01), Pityo
patent: 2579775 (1951-12-01), Allen et al.
patent: 2839883 (1958-06-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 3037407 (1962-06-01), Maclaren
patent: 3216289 (1965-11-01), Lyman
patent: 3689951 (1972-09-01), Van Hecke et al.
patent: 3747441 (1973-07-01), Amtsberg et al.
patent: 4226110 (1980-10-01), Suganuma
patent: 4292833 (1981-10-01), Lapp
patent: 6076330 (2000-06-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 6196045 (2001-03-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 6446482 (2002-09-01), Heskey et al.
patent: 6477919 (2002-11-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 1197223 (1970-07-01), None
patent: 2 213 137 (1989-08-01), None
2 pages from Applicant's web site, www.crimpers-and-decappers.com.
Rada Rinaldi I.
Weeks Gloria R
Young & Thompson
LandOfFree
Pneumatic crimping and capping handheld tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pneumatic crimping and capping handheld tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pneumatic crimping and capping handheld tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3241097