| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for applying a closure to a receptacle is disclosed wherein an open top receptacle is moved along a processing path on an indexing conveyor and an outer lid and flexible inner closure sheet are placed together and on the open receptacle by a rotatably indexing, horizontally mounted drum assembly with a generally hexagonal exterior presenting six faces which each comprises a closure sheet carrier plate. Mounted within a central recess in each sheet carrier plate is a lid carrier plate which is movable between a seated position within the sheet carrier plate and an extended position displaced from the sheet carrier plate. A continuous strip of closure sheet is maintained adjacent one side of the drum assembly between the drum assembly and an intermittently driven cutter. In operation, the drum assembly is rotatably indexed in a first 60 DEG increment to present a lid carrier plate at the top of the drum assembly, which lid carrier plate is then extended to receive a lid from a lid dispensing assembly mounted above the drum assembly. By vacuum holding action, the lid carrier assembly secures a lid from the lid dispensing assembly and is returned to the seated position on the sheet carrier plate. During a second 60 DEG indexed rotation, the drum face bearing the lid is brought into contact with the strip of closure sheet which, by vacuum means, is held against the face of the drum assembly superposed upon the lid and sheet carrier plate. After a third indexed rotation, the strip is severed by a cutter to leave a square-shaped sheet superposed upon the lid on the face of the drum assembly. The drum assembly is then rotatably indexed a fourth time to bring the lid and square sheet to the bottom of the drum assembly and in alignment over an open top receptacle. The lid carrier plate is then moved to the extended position forcing the lid and closure sheet into the open top of the receptacle, following which the vacuum hold on the lid is terminated and the lid carrier plate is returned to the seated position in the film carrier plate. |
