Chuck apparatus for supporting containers by the finish portion thereof

Claim 2

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a chuck assembly comprising: a spindle, means for mounting said spindle vertically, a chuck body carried by said spindle, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, between a radially outward open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being so shaped that when in said closed position in use they form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container supported by the chuck assembly, and an annular sleeve shiftable along said spindle and operative to engage and cam said jaws to pivot about the horizontal axes thereof from said open position to said closed position, each said jaw including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion when in said closed position so that said jaws support said container, the mounting of each said jaw for pivotal movement being such that each jaw is biased by the force of gravity to pivot from said closed position outwardly toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith; vertically movable means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of closing engagement with said jaws, and support means for said vertically movable means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for shifting said sleeve along said spindle into and out of closing engagement with said jaws comprises a lift assembly comprising a vertically reciprocable shaft having a fork attached thereto, said fork extending horizontally from said shaft and engageable with said annular sleeve to shift the latter along said spindle, vertically with respect to said jaws.

Claim 4

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a chuck assembly comprising a chuck body having a vertical axis and a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body, each said jaw including a main body portion, a lip portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, and a horizontal pivot pin extending transversely through said lobe portion and seated in a respective one of said recesses, the said jaws being pivotally movable about the pivot pins between an open position and a radially inward closed position wherein said jawS in use form a mask about the finish portion of a container supported by the chuck assembly, an annular sleeve, and means supporting the said sleeve for movement along said vertical axis, said sleeve being operative to engage and cam said jaws from said open position to said closed position, the said lip portions being adapted to engage said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby while said jaws form said mask about said finish portion, said jaws being so mounted by said pivot pins, with respect to their centers of mass, as to be biased by the force of gravity from said closed position toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith; and means engageable with said sleeve for lifting said sleeve out of engagement with said jaws.

Claim 5

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a chuck assembly comprising a chuck body having a vertical axis and a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of chuck jaws mounted by said body, each said jaw including a main body portion, a lip portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, and a horizontal pivot pin extending transversely through said lobe portion and seated in a respective one of said recesses, the said jaws being pivotally movable about the pivot pins between an open position and a radially inward closed position wherein said jawS in use form a mask about the finish portion of a container supported by the chuck assembly, an annular sleeve, and means supporting the said sleeve for movement along said vertical axis, said sleeve being operative to engage and cam said jaws from said open position to said closed position, the said lip portions being adapted to engage said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby while said jaws form said mask about said finish portion, said jaws being so mounted by said pivot pins, with respect to their centers of mass, as to be biased by the force of gravity from said closed position toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith; and means engageable with said sleeve for lifting said sleeve out of engagement with said jaws.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for lifting said sleeve out of engagement with said jaws comprises a lift assembly comprising a vertically mounted shaft having a fork attached thereto and extending horizontally therefrom, means for moving said lift assembly into position to engage the sleeve for lifting it, and means for moving said shaft and fork vertically, when engaged with said sleeve, thereby to lift said sleeve and permit said jaws to open.

Claim 7

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a movable chuck assembly comprising a vertically disposed spindle, a housing receiving and supporting an upper end of said spindle, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, a plurality of vertically disposed chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, the said jaws being pivotally movable between a spread apart open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being shaped to form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container carried there in use, and an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle with respect to said body, said spindle holding said sleeve in alignment with said jaws for engaging and camming said jaws from said open position to said closed position, each said jaw including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws being so pivoted as to be biased by the force of gravity from said closed position to said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, means for moving said chuck assembly along said track, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path comprising a shaft vertically reciprocal within a concentric casing, first fork means attached to and extending from said shaft and engageable around said annular sleeve, said first fork means shiftable vertically with respect to said casing to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, and second fork means attached to and extending from said casing and engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, and means for driving said lift assembly.

Claim 8

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a movable chuck assembly comprising a vertically disposed spindle, a housing receiving and supporting an upper end of said spindle, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, a plurality of vertically disposed chuck jaws mounted by said body and extending therebelow, the said jaws being pivotally movable between a spread apart open position and a radially inward closed position, said jaws being shaped to form a substantially closed mask about the finish portion of a container carried there in use, and an annular sleeve vertically shiftable along said spindle with respect to said body, said spindle holding said sleeve in alignment with said jaws for engaging and camming said jaws from said open position to said closed position, each said jaw including a lip portion adapted to engage said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws being so pivoted as to be biased by the force of gravity from said closed position to said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, means for moving said chuck assembly along said track, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path comprising a shaft vertically reciprocal within a concentric casing, first fork means attached to and extending from said shaft and engageable around said annular sleeve, said first fork means shiftable vertically with respect to said casing to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, and second fork means attached to and extending from said casing and engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, and means for driving said lift assembly.

Claim 9

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a movable chuck assembly comprising a rotatable vertically disposed spindle having an upper end and a lower end, a housing mounting said spindle at said upper end thereof, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, said body including a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of vertically disposed chuck jaws mounted by said body, each said jaw including a main body portion, a lip portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, and a pivot pin having a horizontal axis and extending transversely through said lobe portion and adapted to seat in a respective one of said recEsses, the said jaws being pivotally movable about the axes of said pins between an open position and a radially inward closed position wherein said jaws form a substantially closed annulus about said finish portion to mask the latter from application of a coating to said container, and an annular sleeve vertically movable on said spindle and operative to engage and cam said jaws from said open position to said closed position, the said lip portions being adapted to engage and mask said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws being so mounted on said pivot pins as to be biased by the force of gravity from said closed position toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, means for driving said assembly along said track, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path comprising a shaft vertically reciprocal with a concentric casing, first fork means attached to said shaft and extending therefrom, engageable around said annular sleeve to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, and second fork means attached to said casing and extending therefrom, engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, and means for driving said lift assembly.

Claim 10

Apparatus for supporting a container in a vertical position by a finish portion thereof comprising, in combination, a movable chuck assembly comprising a rotatable vertically disposed spindle having an upper end and a lower end, a housing mounting said spindle at said upper end thereof, a chuck body mounted at the lower end of said spindle, said body including a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of vertically disposed chuck jaws mounted by said body, each said jaw including a main body portion, a lip portion, an upwardly extending lobe portion, and a pivot pin having a horizontal axis and extending transversely through said lobe portion and adapted to seat in a respective one of said recEsses, the said jaws being pivotally movable about the axes of said pins between an open position and a radially inward closed position wherein said jaws form a substantially closed annulus about said finish portion to mask the latter from application of a coating to said container, and an annular sleeve vertically movable on said spindle and operative to engage and cam said jaws from said open position to said closed position, the said lip portions being adapted to engage and mask said finish portion in said closed position and to support said container thereby, said jaws being so mounted on said pivot pins as to be biased by the force of gravity from said closed position toward said open position when said sleeve is out of engagement therewith, a track defining a fixed predetermined path, means for driving said assembly along said track, a movable lift assembly adapted to move in synchronization with said chuck assembly over at least a portion of said path comprising a shaft vertically reciprocal with a concentric casing, first fork means attached to said shaft and extending therefrom, engageable around said annular sleeve to move said sleeve into and out of engagement with said jaws, and second fork means attached to said casing and extending therefrom, engageable around said spindle to maintain said lift assembly in synchronization with the movement of said chuck assembly, and means for driving said lift assembly.