IE32052L - Capping bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,178,821. Capping bottles. AMERICAN FLANGE & MFG. CO. Inc. 16 Jan., 1968 [20 Oct., 1967], No. 2364/68. Heading B8T. The invention relates to a method of selectively applying standard fluted skirt crown caps and smooth skirt tear-off closures to containers through simple modifications to a bottle crowning machine. Fig. 1 (not shown). The machine includes a rotatable crowning turret (1), a plurality of axially reciprocating crowner plunger assemblies (5), an axially disposed work-imparting shaft 11 mounted within each assembly and a downwardly spring- biased crown cap 26 engaging spindle 24. The method comprises attaching a crowner platform 33 and throat 31 assembly to the lower end of the shaft 11, applying crown caps 40 to containers 41, detaching the crowner platform and throat assembly and attaching a tear-off closure applying head and applying tear-off closures 90 to containers. Fitment and removal of the assembly and head to flange 20 is by means of three screws 35. Application of crown caps.-A crown cap 40 is introduced through an entrance port 37 and held on the spindle 24 by a magnetized split portion 27. The plunger assembly 5 is then lowered and the cap is compressed against the bottle. The spindle 24 becomes stationary while the shaft 11 continues to move the crowner throat 31 downwardly against the resistance of a compression spring 26. The relative movement between the spindle 24 and the crowner throat 31 causes the throat inner surface 32 to engage the cap and fold the skirt under the lip of the bottle 41. Application of tear-off closures.-A bottle is supplied with a closure 90 loosely seated on it. As the plunger assembly is lowered a cap holddown member 69 bears against the cap top 91 compressing a spring 71 until a cap nest 67 compresses the cap against the underlying bottle lip and anvils 75 surround the cap skirt 92. Continued downward movement of the plunger assembly causes segments 74 to move relative to the vertically stationary spindle 60 with the result that jaws 72 are cammed radially inward against the cap skirt 92. The force required to compress the cap is supplied by the spring 26 and transmitted through both the spindles 24 and 60.[GB1178821A]