Abstract: An apparatus and a method for capping and sealing a vial with a cap assembly including a deformable annular seal, e.g., a ferrule, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base for holding the vial, a pressure applying platen, plural sealing rollers and associated electronic circuitry and motors. The platen is arranged to be moved relative to the base, whereupon it engages and applies a force to the cap assembly. The load cell measures the force applied and provides a signal indicative thereof to the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry determines when a desired amount of force has been applied to control the operation of the rollers, whereupon the rollers apply a force to the annular seal to permanently crimp the annular seal on the vial.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine for closing a container having a lid, which includes a supply unit for delivering the container along with a loosely seated lid. A rotating crimping head is provided with a plurality of recesses for one container each, a plurality of tensioning units each hold a container into a recess, and a crimping unit crimps the lids onto the container in order to close the container. A plurality of sensor units are provided such that one sensor unit is arranged on each tensioning unit. Each sensor unit records a container rotation and/or a container tensioning force in the crimping head. Each sensor unit has a transmitter to send signals and a control unit which has a receiver to receive signals sent from the transmitter.

Abstract: A tube capper and decapper and method of using the same. The tube capper includes a handheld housing that supports a one-dimensional array of spindles. Each spindle is shaped to receive a cap. A drive mechanism rotates each spindle of the one-dimensional array in unison for capping or decapping a corresponding one-dimensional array of tubes.

Abstract: Rotary screwtop container capping arrangement designed to screw screw caps onto screwtop containers having neck rings which support the containers during capping. The capping arrangement has a cam arrangement having a guide roller located in a control groove having top and bottom guide surfaces. A lifting element or rod is connected to the cam arrangement and is moved up and down in a controlled manner to control the lifting and lowering of a container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine for closing a container having a lid, which includes a supply unit for delivering the container along with a loosely seated lid. A rotating crimping head is provided with a plurality of recesses for one container each, a plurality of tensioning units each hold a container into a recess, and a crimping unit crimps the lids onto the container in order to close the container. A plurality of sensor units are provided such that one sensor unit is arranged on each tensioning unit. Each sensor unit records a container rotation and/or a container tensioning force in the crimping head. Each sensor unit has a transmitter to send signals and a control unit which has a receiver to receive signals sent from the transmitter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cam-actuated spindle assembly for selectively attaching a cam follower to a capping spindle. By adjusting the assembly, the user can easily adjust a capping spindle to follow a selected one of different tracks that are formed into a barrel cam. This simplifies the process of adjusting a bottle capping or corking machine to accommodate a variety of products with different types and sizes of closures and bottles. The mounting assembly weighs considerably less than a spindle or barrel cam, and therefore, is considerably easier to reposition and adjust. There is no need to remove the barrel cam or change out the spindle, which significantly reduces costs, down-time, and manpower requirements. The mounting assembly is designed to be compatible with existing bottle capping equipment.

Abstract: A device including a rotating capping head with axial displacement, characterized in that the head is provided with means for screwing a cap on the neck, and means for crimping the cap beneath a crimping ring. The axial displacement includes a first axial displacement of the head activating the screwing means and a second axial displacement of the head activating the crimping means, so as to produce successively, and in one single axial displacement of the head, a screwing step and a crimping step constituting the capping process. The inventive device enables the cap to be screwed and crimped in one single step.

Abstract: A capping apparatus 1 includes torque sensor 12 which detects an output torque when a chuck 7 is driven for rotation by a motor 9. Initially, a cap 5 is held by the chuck 7. The cap 5 is fitted over a mouth of a vessel 2, and then the chuck 7 is rotated through one revolution in a clamping direction. A resulting output torque is detected by the torque sensor 12, and the output torque rapidly increases at the position where the threads on the cap 5 and the vessel 2 abut against each other (an incipient position of meshing engagement P). The cap 5 is rotated through a given angle of rotation as referenced to the incipient position of meshing engagement P, thus threadably engaging the cap 5 with the vessel 2. The invention allows a uniform clamping of cap 5 at the completion of the capping operation.

Abstract: Mechanism for applying a roller forming closure to a container is disclosed wherein the closure is provided, with an integral fitment including a fluid discharge pump and an associated discharge line.

Abstract: A device for rapid engagement/release of units for fitting lids to containers, has a fixed part and a movable part which can be reversibly coupled to the fixed part. The fixed part houses corresponding first radial elements integral with the movable part and such as to allow the movement in an axial and/or radial direction of the movable part. A first locking device is associated with the fixed part and able to co-operate with corresponding second radial elements of the movable part so as to prevent displacement in an axial direction thereof. A second locking device is coaxially movable on the fixed part and able to co-operate with said first radial elements so as to prevent the rotation of the movable part.

Abstract: A hand-held, power-operated or power-assisted, crimping/er or decapping/er tool (60), for container closures, such as vial caps (C), has a hollow handle (50), housing a (pneumatic) piston-in-cylinder actuator (12, 13), with an external trigger (18) operating an internal control valve (16), to control connection of an external pressure supply, through an internal distribution block (11), and displacement of an actuator output rod (15), coupled, through a pivoted bell crank lever (10), to a demountable crimping/er or decapping/er (27).

Abstract: A closure device for a plastic container includes a liner and a plastic closure. The liner is sealed to the neck of the bottle at the end face of the neck and along a portion of the outer surface of the neck. The plastic closure engages the liner to retain the liner against the neck during sealing and to seal the area between the liner and the closure top from liquids present during cooling of the container. The closure includes a top wall, an annular closure skirt depending from the top wall, an annular outer flexible seal depending from the top wall, and at least one annular pressure ring. The outer flexible seal retains an outer edge of the liner against the outer surface of the container neck and prevents ingress of liquids. The annular pressure ring engages the liner to retain the liner against the end face of the neck during sealing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capping blown containers is provided. The top surfaces of a snap-on cap are preferably engaged sequentially by pressure members that traverse different segments thereof. The pressure members urge the cap over the neck of a container as they traverse the cap. The pressure members are preferably mounted to a support that is positioned above an initially loosely capped container, and resiliently urge the cap in a downward direction. The pressure exerted by each pressure member on the cap may be adjustable. The surfaces of the pressure members for engaging the cap are preferably substantially spherical.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus, comprising a revolving turret supporting a plurality of crimping heads, each crimping head operative to engage a closure on a container to create a crimp in the closure. The crimping head includes a cam follower riding on a stationary cam. The movement imparted by the cam profile to the cam follower is communicated to a crimping tool that engages the closure. The cam defines a plurality of cam follower receiving positions, each position establishing a different profile. The cam can be selectively displaced relative to the revolving turret to alter the position at which the cam follower engages the cam and thus the profile followed by the cam follower.

Abstract: A die and method of assembling a high torque capacity metal spool. The spool comprises a cylindrical barrel, a pair of flanges and a pair of flange hubs. The die includes a support member and a curling member that is adapted to move relative to the support housing. The die is adapted to be driven towards a matching die to press a spool therebetween. Each curling member includes an annular curling face which is adapted to curl and compress metal edges of the cylindrical barrel, the flanges and the flange hubs into tightened curls. The tightened curls secure the cylindrical barrel with the flanges and flange hubs. Each die further includes a plurality of nibs carried by the support housings which project outward from the curling face of the curling member after the tightened curls have been formed to swage a plurality of detents into the tightened curls of the spool. The resulting detents in the metal spool provide for increased torque transfer between the flanges, the flange hubs and the cylindrical barrel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered crimping tool used to secure a cap onto a bottle or vial. The powered tool has a vertical housing portion which the user holds to activate the crimping action. The crimping action results from a motor causing a plunger to move downward, thereby initially closing a plurality of jaws and continuing downward to cooperate with the jaws to secure the cap on the bottle or vial. Means are provided to adjust the starting point of the crimping cycle or the plunger upper limit as well as the finishing point of the crimping cycle or the plunger lower limit.

Abstract: A sealing closure for a bottle which relieves excess pressure is formed by placing an aluminum cap including a sealing disk of compressible elastic material on the bottle neck, and forming the cap by means of a die which is pressed axially against the top or frontal surface of the bottle neck. The die has circumferentially-spaced projections which produce corresponding depressions in the cap opposite the frontal surface and simultaneously compress the disk between the cap and the frontal surface leaving the areas between said depressions slightly compressed. Excess gas escapes by compressing the slightly compressed areas of the sealing disk to lift the disk off the lip of the bottle.

Abstract: A process and equipment for shaping seals for containers with an electromagnetic pulse. The pulse is generated by a current pulse coil positioned around the seal and energized by the discharge current of a condenser. The process and the equipment are particularly suited for sealing containers for milk and dairy products and also for other beverages and products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for crimping in a controlled atmosphere constituted by a frame forming a support for a crimping head rotated about a vertical axis and for a device for supplying and evacuating the sub-assemblies to be assembled, said device and the frame cooperating to constitute an enclosure surrounding the crimping head and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum or of neutral gas. According to the invention, the said enclosure is shaped at least for one part in an element in the frame mobile with respect to the rest of the support structure about a lateral pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the crimping head forming door adapted to be closed in sealed manner on a front surface of join arranged on the said fixed structure. The head is mounted on a pivoting bracket. The invention is more particularly applicable to packing food products.

Abstract: An arrangement for closing containers with crown corks and the like, has a piston, a guiding opening in which the piston reciprocates, and a passage for supplying a cleaning liquid, which passage is open into an annular gap formed between the piston and the wall bounding the guiding opening. The passage may include a radial passage portion arranged to communicate with a liquid supplying conduit, and a distributing passage portion communicating with the radial passage portion.

Abstract: A rotary closing machine for closing bottles with mouth lips by closures such as closure caps, corks and the like, which includes a supply container for receiving and supplying closures of the just mentioned type, and also includes a conveying device for feeding the content of the supply container to closing units having closing elements which are adapted to be lifted and lowered in the process of closing the bottles by the closure caps or the like closures. For pressing the closures, e.g. closure caps, against the respective bottle mouths and permanently deforming the closures on the bottle mouth, each closing unit has a deforming member and a holding down member extending through the deforming member; these two members are movable relative to each other. The device furthermore comprises a rotatable element associated with the conveying device for transferring the closures from the conveying device to a holding device at the lower end of the holding down member.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying closures to filled bottles. A slide cam cooperating with interchangeable roll-on and crimp-on closure applying heads which are mounted in a rotating turret so as to raise and lower the heads with respect to the bottles. Interchangeable slide cam inserts for the slide cam are provided to modify the slide cam depending upon whether roll-on or crimp-on closure applying heads are mounted in the turret.

Abstract: A crimping mechanism for an electric capping machine has a rapidly adjustable threaded ferrule and a crimping head base with a calibrated bracket, enabling the operator to simplify adjustments for changes in container size. The crimping roller is mounted to exert a substantially constant pressure against the container cap, and thereby increase its crimping efficiency.

Abstract: A spin or friction welding apparatus which can accurately locate a container such as a semirigid plastic bottle with respect to an overcap which is to be frictionally welded to the bottle by means of a rotatable spindle member. In order to assure that the overcap is secured to the bottle neck when employing high production machinery utilizing a rotating spindle mechanism for frictionally engaging the cap on a stationary bottle, many tolerances must be compensated for in the dimensions of the cap, the size of the neck on the container, as well as the positioning of the cap in relation to the container. To compensate for these variables, a biasing means is provided in conjunction with the rotatable spindle member so as to effect a predetermined tension on the cap member when it engages the stationary container neck and is spun into frictional engagement with it.