Lidding machine and method

Abstract

A lidding machine with a conveyor 7 for conveying containers and a set of jaws 11 positioned at opposite sides respectively of the containers. The jaws move towards and each other over the conveyor and upwards away from the conveyor to lift one or more containers 22 off the conveyor and urge each container into contact with a lid 23 supported over the conveyor by a picking head 19 arranged to move on a rotating support 21 to transport lids between a lid magazine 16 and a position where lids and containers can be fitted together.

1 . A lidding machine comprising:
 a conveyor for conveying containers;   a set of jaws positioned at opposite sides respectively of the conveyor the jaws being arranged to move towards each other over the conveyor and upwards away from the conveyor thereby to lift one or more containers off the conveyor and urge the/or each container into contact with a respective lid positioned over the conveyor;   a lid magazine for storing lids;   a picking head for supporting one or more lids over the conveyor, the picking head being mounted to a picking head support, the picking head support being mounted for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the conveyor enabling the picking head to be moved between a first position where the picking head can pick one or more lids from the lid magazine and a second position where the picking head can support one or more lids above the conveyor enabling containers and lids to be urged together,   wherein the picking head support rotates through less than 150 degrees in order to move the picking head between its first and second positions.   
     
     
         2 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein opposed edges of each jaw comprise one or more recesses arranged to fit around part of a container to be handled by the machine. 
     
     
         3 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein opposed edges of each jaw comprise part circular and/or part rectangular recesses. 
     
     
         4 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein opposed edges of each jaw comprise one or more raised walls arranged to be received into a rim of a container to be handled by the machine. 
     
     
         5 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the jaws are substantial mirror opposites of each other. 
     
     
         6 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the jaws are each slidably mounted to each other or to a support enabling them to move towards and away from each other. 
     
     
         7 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the jaws or the support are/is mounted to a structure operative to raise and lower the jaws relative to the conveyor. 
     
     
         8 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the picking head comprises one or more formations for locating one or more lids. 
     
     
         9 . A lidding machine as claimed in  1  wherein the picking head support rotates through less than 140 degrees in order to move the picking head between its first and second positions. 
     
     
         10 . A lidding machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the picking head is moveably mounted to the picking head support so that the picking head may move perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the picking head support. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fixing a lid to a container comprising the steps of providing a lidding machine as claimed in any preceding claim, placing the container on the conveyor and causing the conveyor to move the container to a predetermined position between the jaws, causing the jaws to move towards each other, and causing the jaws to lift the container off the conveyor and urge it into contact with a lid supported above the conveyor. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  where the lid and the container fit together mechanically. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising: lowering the jaws to lower containers back onto the conveyor, moving the jaws away from each other and causing the conveyor to move the containers out of the machine. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising the step of: picking a lid from a magazine with the picking head and moving the lid to a position above the conveyor.