Dispensing – Movably mounted supply container – Rotatable
Patent
1997-12-24
1999-09-07
Recla, Henry J.
Dispensing
Movably mounted supply container
Rotatable
222 64, 222160, 222167, 222394, 141198, 366220, 366232, B67D 564
Patent
active
059473371
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a rotary union, and in particular to a fluid-fillable rotary union where the fluid is one which reacts to shear stresses.
One example of such a fluid is a water-based can sealing compound, which is an aqueous suspension of rubber and other ingredients, used for providing a sealing gasket in a can end.
BACKGROUND
It is known to use a rotary can end lining machine in which the can sealing compound is dispensed on a turret arrangement to which there is a single feed of compound, and then distribution of the liquid compound to several lining stations around the periphery of the turret so that the compound can be dispensed while the turret is rotating and while the lining stations are orbiting around the axis of rotation of the turret.
For many years a turret has been used in which the can sealing compound is supplied in this way, but the compound has usually been a solvent-based compound in which rubber and resin are dissolved in a solvent and fillers are in suspension. Such a compound is not susceptible to the effects of shear.
The solvent would evaporate during drying, to leave a solid gasket. More recently, in order to avoid the emission due to evaporation of solvents, there has been a move towards water-based can sealing compounds and it has been found to be a disadvantage of such compounds that shear forces in the liquid, for example at any interface between stationary and rotating parts of the apparatus, give rise to coagulation of the compound which causes a build-up of the coagulated compound locally in the rotary union of the turret, and eventually interference with the flow of compound to the individual moulding stations.
There have been various attempts made in the past to avoid such a problem. For example, GB-A-2200059 uses a rotatable reservoir with flow into that reservoir vertically downwardly through a stationary dip tube on which are also mounted liquid level detectors to control the inlet of suspension into the reservoir within predetermined upper and lower limits. This will ensure that the interface between the suspension and the gas space thereabove remains well below the rotary seals between the stationary dip tube and the lid of the rotating reservoir. While such an arrangement does minimize the risk of contact of liquid with adjacent rotating and stationary surfaces of the apparatus at the seals, which occur well above the level of the reservoir around an upward extension of the dip tube, the fact that the reservoir is rotating around the stationary dip tube (for example at around 100 rpm) can present problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a rotary union for distributing a flow of liquid to an orbiting use location, comprising a stationary housing supporting a dip tube for introduction of the liquid flow, an upwardly open reservoir cup surrounding said dip tube and supported for rotation within said stationary housing, a hollow shaft extending downwardly from the floor of said reservoir centered on the axis of rotation of the reservoir cup and passing through a stationary floor of said housing to define an outlet from said reservoir, and a sensor in the ceiling of said housing for detecting the level of liquid in said reservoir cup for controlling liquid-admission means to said dip tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the sole Figure shows a schematic view of the control circuitry and the suspension feed components, together with a sectional view of the rotary union for applying a single supply of the can sealing compound at the hub of a rotating turret.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
In the drawing the open cup-shaped reservoir 1 rotates inside a stationary housing 2 to which a stationary dip tube 3 is attached.
The housing 2 also supports a sensor 4 for determining the level of liquid in t
REFERENCES:
patent: 3515180 (1970-06-01), Friendship
Baker William L.
Leon Craig K.
Maust Timothy L.
Recla Henry J.
W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
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