Abstract: A closure cap and method of making the same wherein an annular or ring-shaped gasket is injection molded onto the inner surface of a cap shell formed of plastic or metal. The annular or ring-shaped gasket includes radially extending tabs integrally formed therewith, one of said tabs being formed at a location wherein the plastic melt is fed to an annular gasket-forming channel in a mold core and another of said tabs being formed at the location wherein plastic melt is discharged from said channel. Preferably, said other tab includes a cold well formation which communicates with the annular gasket through a connecting portion of reduced cross-sectional area with respect to the cross-sectional areas of both the gasket and the cold well formation.

Abstract: Liners with improved oxygen barrier properties for use with closure caps are disclosed. The liners are made of a composition that includes a thermoplastic elastomer, polyisobutylene and polybutylene. The liner is adhered to the inner facing surface of a closure cap.

Abstract: Adhesion of shaped thermoplastic elastomer articles is promoted without the need for special primers or other supplemental resin additives by incorporating in an enamel coating composition, an adhesion promoting amount of a carboxyl-modified poly (alpha-olefin) polymer resin. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the enamel coating composition is a corrosion-resistant cresol-formaldehyde/epoxy resin coating containing from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of a maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene resin adhesion promoter. The compositions and bonding methods described are useful to provide bonded structures of shaped thermoplastic elastomers, such as SEBS, PBR and EPDM copolymers, heat sealed to metallic substrates, especially metal closures for food containers destined for exposure to high temperature filling, sterilization and retort processing conditions.

Abstract: The liner provided metallic shell having an outer-facing surface and an inner-facing surface, said inner-facing surface including a cured enamel coating thereon comprising a solids mixture of an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, carboxypolyolefin resin and polyester resin; and a shaped thermoplastic elastomer member adhered to said enamel inner surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a closure on a container and determining whether the closure is properly seated includes at least two fiber optic heads positioned opposite one another on either side of a conveyor belt or other package transport mechanism. The optic heads face one another through the path of travel of a package. The optic fibers of the receiving head are arranged in a rectangular shape, narrow in the horizontal direction and long in the vertical direction. The optic heads are connected to an optical sensor with an analog output. As a package with a closure travels down the transport mechanism, the package closure interrupts portions of the light beam directed at the receiving head. The optical sensor generates an analog trace signal as the closure moves down the conveyor. A processor samples the analog signal and determines the presence and/or position of the closure therefrom.

Abstract: A press-on/pry-off closure includes a separately formed circular end panel, preferably composed of metal, and a surrounding rim composed of a flexible plastic, preferably a thermoplastic polyolefin. The end panel is top-side inserted into the rim and secured between a radially inwardly extending ledge on an interior sidewall of a skirt portion of the rim and a plurality of radially inwardly extending panel-retaining formations adjacent an upper edge of the rim. The skirt includes a removal-assist portion which, in the illustrated embodiment, is in the form a hinged tab integrally formed with the rim. The tab is outwardly pivotable about the hinge axis for applying a lifting force to the rim to facilitate removal of the closure from a container.

Abstract: A closure for press-on application to, and rotational removal from, a container having a cylindrical neck which includes a plurality of vertically spaced helical threads formed in the outer surface thereof in generally parallel relationship to each other. A flexible cylindrical skirt, preferably composed of a polyolefin such as polypropylene, includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting spaced lugs that are circumferentially disposed around the inner cylindrical skirt surface and axially spaced therefrom for engagement with the threads on the cylindrical neck of the container. The lugs are composed of a deformable plastic material and are sized so that when the closure is applied to the container, an interference fit is provided between at least some of the lugs and at least some of the threads.

Abstract: A tamper evident closure for sealing a container having a threaded neck portion and an outwardly extending annular flange below the threaded neck portion including a cap assembly having an annular skirt and an annular tamper band assembly having a top edge connected to the annular skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges disposed about a first portion of the annular tamper band, at least one infrangible bridge disposed about a second portion of the annular tamper band and a vertically weakened section between the first and second portion and a series of interconnected hinged engagement tabs disposed along the first portion of the annular tamper band.

Abstract: A tamper indicating closure cap for a vacuum sealed container includes a metal end panel, a rim portion formed in the outer margin of the end panel and a skirt depending from the rim portion. The metal end panel includes a central tamper indicating area comprising a tamper indicating button and a generally concave shaped annular region extending radially outwardly toward the rim portion. The tamper indicating area is adapted to defect axially between a non-tamper indicating position and a tamper indicating position.

Abstract: A dispensing closure which is particularly suited for hot fill packaging wherein vacuum conditions are present as well as the packaging of carbonated beverages wherein superatmospheric conditions are present. The dispensing closure includes a rotatable outercap that overlies, and is relatively moveable with respect to, an inner cap secured to a container mouth. The inner and/or outer cap can be integrally formed with a resilient thermoplastic gasket liner system that provides vacuum seals both between the inner or outer caps and container as well as between the inner and outer caps. The closure can be equipped with a tamper indicating band, preferably located at the base of the outer cap, which will separate from the outer cap when it is rotated and axially moved upwardly from the closed to the dispensing position.

Abstract: A closure for press-on application to, and rotational removal from, a container having a cylindrical neck which includes a plurality of vertically spaced helical threads formed on the outer surface thereof. The closure includes an end panel member having a central portion formed of metal or other suitable oxygen barrier material which is adapted to overlie a mouth of the container. A generally cylindrical plastic skirt on the closure is formed by molding the same in surrounding and capturing relation to the end panel and at least a portion of the upper and lower surfaces of the end panel are generally free of plastic. The closure also includes a gasket which is engageable with the neck portion of the container to provide a seal therewith. A free edge on the outer periphery of the end panel member is encapsulated by at least one of said gasket and said molded plastic skirt.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for economically manufacturing gasketed closures is described. Gasket material is placed within the closure and subsequently reformed to provide a gasket profile capable of forming an effective seal when the closure is applied to a container. The gasket material may be deposited in the closure as a hot-melt or as a preformed cut-out. The deposited material is subsequently reformed to have a desired profile by inserting a compression punch or a roller into the closure. The invention is adapted for the use of non-PVC containing materials such as certain thermoplastic elastomer materials which are non-flowable in a molten state and which may have a viscosity index of greater than about 40 meter-grams torque at 175.degree. C. The gasket materials may optionally be foamed prior to reforming to create a finished gasket possessing a high density area more resistant to damage when the closure is applied to a container.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an irreversible tamper evident system for a button closure is provided. The irreversible tamper evident system is provided by a color change system carried by the flexible button portion of the closure. The color change system comprises an indicator coating over a dark colored substrate coating. The indicator coat is preferably colored with a light colored transparent colorant such as an orange colored fluorescent dye. The indicator coat is preferably a liquid material which can be cured by evaporation, heat, UV irradiation or the like, to form a solid layer. When the substrate layer and indicator layer are in intimate contact, a first color is observed. Depending upon the relative colors used for this substrate and indicator layers, this first color can be a combination of the colors of the two layer or can be primarily the color of the substrate layer.

Abstract: A button enhancement coating system wherein mechanically actuated buttons and vacuum actuated buttons of closures may be provided with a coating system which changes color after the closure has been applied to a container and then removed therefrom with the change in color indicating tampering. The coating system includes a first coating layer applied directly to the upper surface of the button and a second coating layer of a different color applied in overlying and bonded relation to the first coating layer. The second coating layer is preferably transparent and the two colors are selected so that they produce a third color while the coating layers are bonded together. When the two coating layers become separated during the removal of the closure from a container, the button assumes the color of the second coating layer. The first coating layer may have an embossed upper surface including ribs and grooves with the second coating layer flowed thereinto.

Abstract: This relates to a color change system to be incorporated in a flexing area of an end panel of a closure. The color change system includes a dark background coating on a flexing portion of the closure end panel to which there is bonded by way of an adhesive such as a varnish, ink or coating a brittle layer which due to the flipping action of the flexing portion of the end panel will fracture. The brittle layer is preferably of a light color and is colored utilizing a fluorescent dye. The combination of the background color and the fluorescent color of the brittle layer produces a first color in the original closure and when the end panel flexes and the brittle layer fractures to not only crack but also tear apart or delaminate from itself, to reflect its own light color much more brilliantly, the color of the color change system drastically changes to indicate tampering. This color change is irreversible. The color change system may also include a message indicia.

Abstract: This relates to a guide for guiding a closure cap onto a container neck finish in a machine for automatically applying closure caps to containers. Most particularly this relates to a guide assembly for closure caps which include a metal shell and a plastic overcap including a tamper indicating band which depends below the metal shell and wherein the closure cap cannot be supported by way of flanges or rails of a track in the normal manner in that the supporting part of the closure cap is subject to deformation and not true and round as in the case of metal closure caps. A lower portion of the conventional track has been replaced by a magnetic cap guide unit which forms an extension of the conventional track and which maintains the position of a closure cap after it has been initially engaged by the neck finish of a container so as to maintain the relationship of the closure cap relative to the container which permits the closure cap being seated square on to the neck finish for final automatic application.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an irreversible tamper evident system for a button closure is provided. The irreversible tamper evident system is provided by a color change system carried by the flexible button portion of the closure. The color change system comprises an indicator coating over a dark colored substrate coating. The indicator coat is preferably colored with a light colored transparent colorant such as an orange colored fluorescent dye. The indicator coat is preferably a liquid material which can be cured by evaporation, heat, UV irradiation or the like, to form a solid layer. When the substrate layer and indicator layer are in intimate contact, a first color is observed. Depending upon the relative colors used for this substrate and indicator layers, this first color can be a combination of the colors of the two layer or can be primarily the color of the substrate layer.

Abstract: This relates to the provision of a vacuum actuated button type closure with a tamper indicating arrangement which will visually indicate when a container has been opened or more particularly when the vacuum within a vacuum packed container has been lost. The deflectable button of the closure is utilized to squeeze a dye from a sponge like member into a layer of absorbent material so as to color the absorbent material. The absorbent material, in turn, is provided with non-absorbent areas which define indicia to indicate that an associated container has been opened.

Abstract: A shaft locking device for precisely maintaining axial and rotational position of a machine part, with the mechanism including a shaft positioning element having an opening lying along a first axis for receiving a rotatable part, a rotatable and axially moveable part positioned within the opening and including a groove having its centerline or locus of maximum depth lying perpendicular to the machine part rotational axis, with the shaft positioning element further including a threaded set screw arranged coplanar with the groove plane and perpendicular to but offset from the shaft axis and having a contoured end face moveable into cooperating engagement with a portion of the groove surface.