Barrel bunghole automatic sealing mechanism - has sensor and sealing units slewing on boom raised and lowered

摘要

The mechanism automatically aligns and seals the bunghole of a barrel or drum. A bunghole sensor unit (30) and a sealing mechanism (40) slew on a vertical axis (19) mounted on a boom (11) raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism. Slewing of both on their common axis can be effected by a pneumatic or hydraulic ram. The sensor unit can be detachably flange-mounted on its support, having a mounting tube with external pivot points for sensor fingers whose shanks extend through openings in the walls of the tube, and which are held together by an external elastic ring. A ram-operated centring mandrel works up and down, acting against the finger shanks.