Patents by Inventor Gerald M. Futej

Gerald M. Futej has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Bottle cap delivery system
    Patent number: 5531057
    Abstract: A bottle-cap positioning apparatus (10) positions bottle-caps (12) beneath the orbiting capping heads (14) of a rotary bottle-capping machine (18) for pick-up. A cap feeder (40) places the caps (12) on a semi-circular pick-up path directly under the orbital path (16) of the capping heads (14). An endless belt (68) is supported on a pair of pulleys (52, 54) and orbits around a guide block (76). The guide block (76) has a convex surface (78) that pushes the belt (68) outward to parallel the pick-up path. Cap push-paddles (80) extend radially out from the endless belt (68) and slide the bottle caps (12) sequentially along the pick-up path. Gears (58, 62, 64, 66) drive the pulleys (52, 54) and synchronize the endless belt (68) with the capping heads (14). The endless belt (68), push-paddles (80), pulleys (52, 54) and gears (58, 62, 64, 66) are disposed inside and beneath the orbital path of the capping heads (14) to reduce factory floor space requirements and worker exposure to moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Crown Cork and Seal Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Coleman, Gerald M. Futej, James D. Ash