GB1145131A - Method and apparatus for applying closures to containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1,145,131. Capping containers. OWENS-ILLINOIS Inc. 1 April, 1966, No. 14501/66. Heading B8T. Containers 10 are moved continuously by a conveyer (11), Fig. 1 (not shown), to engage the leading inner edges of caps 9, each cap being supported at an angle to the plane of the container top which engages it and rotated in the unscrewing direction by means of stops 38 as it is entrained on the container; but subsequently the cap is turned in the screwing down direction as the container continues forward, until the cap is screwed fully home. The caps 9 are gravity fed from a shoot 30 via supporting rails 37, being retained in the receiving pockets 42 of the cap stops 38. The ends of the cap stops 38 are tapered, the left hand one 44 in the direction of travel having a friction member 45. As the cap 9 is pulled clear by the container 10 the greater frictional drag exerted by the stop 44 leads to a reverse rotation as the cap 9 assumes a horizontal position on the container 10. The cap is thus slightly backed off the threads on the jar neck, releasing any lugs which may have become hooked under the threads of the jar. A hold-down shoe 50 is provided between the cap stops 38, engaging the cap top panel and holding it in Contact with the jar following its emergence from the cap shoot 30. The shoe 50 is supported by a boss 51 secured to an arm 52, which pivots about a pin 53 and has an integral counteracting arm 54 biased by a spring 55, ensuring engagement of the hold-down shoe 50 with the cap top panel. A levelling plate 60 is engageable with the cap top panel, being lowered by the arcuate movement of an arm 61 pivotally attached to an upstanding support 62 mounted on plate 60 and pivoted about the pin 53, the plate being maintained horizontal in any position by the movement of a guide pin 67 attached to the support 62 in an arcuate slot 68. The lower surface of the plate 60 has a portion constituting a friction member 71 which may protrude to engage the corresponding area of the cap 9 more effectively as it passes the plate 60, thereby imparting an orienting rotation to the cap, which prevents damage to the closure elements on the cap 9 or jar 10 when downward pressure is exerted in the sealing process. When positioned on the jar 10 the cap 9 is rotated into sealing engagement by contact with a pair of oppositely driven endless belts 81, 82. In an alternative embodiment, Fig. 6 (not shown), the pivoted cap stops are replaced by modified stops (87) mounted on a back plate (88) and screwed to a flexure plate (89).