Abstract: A plastic closure has a tamper-evident band with a 2-tier bridge arrangement comprising upper and lower bridges that are staggered circumferentially of the band. The upper bridges are spaced along an upper line of weakness and connect the tamper-evident band to the side wall of the closure, while the lower bridges are spaced along a lower line of weakness and connect a lower portion of the tamper-evident band to an upper portion of the band. The lower portion has an internal locking bead for engaging an external locking shoulder on the neck of a container. When the closure is moved in a direction to remove it from the container, the upper portion of the band is deformed into a zig-zag shape. Eventually upper bridges, which are weaker than the lower bridges, break, so that at least a top part of the closure can be removed from the container.

Abstract: A plastic closure for a container, such as a bottle having an externally threaded neck, has a top wall, an internally threaded sidewall, and a seal comprising outer and inner concentric sealing members that extend downwardly from an inner surface of the top wall. The outer sealing member extends downwardly farther than the inner sealing member and is substantially thicker than the inner sealing member. The outer sealing member is disposed to engage an outer corner of the rim of the neck of the bottle when the closure is threaded onto the bottle, and the inner sealing member is disposed to engage the top of the rim after engagement of the corner with the outer sealing member. The outer sealing member deflects outward slightly, and the inner sealing member deflects upwardly and inwardly.

Abstract: Plastic closures for beverage bottles and containers for motor oil, food, pharmaceuticals, industrial products and the like have a tamper-resistant band connected to the sidewall of the closure by internal bridges that are formed by notches in the thread core of molding apparatus of the type having mold parts, including a stripper ring, that move axially to release closures. Stretching, elongation, and weakening of bridges when the closure is stripped from the mold are avoided, and desired configuration of the bridges is maintained, with improved quality and uniformity and more consistent proper performance of the closure during application to and removal from a bottle. In a modification, a small number of relatively strong bridges is added to prevent drooping of the tamper-resistant band if some of the predominant bridges break inadvertently before removal of the closure from a bottle, for example.

Abstract: A linerless plastic closure has an integral frusto-conical sealing ring that seals with the rim of the neck of a container when the closure is applied thereto. The sealing ring has a hinge portion at an upper end thereof with a wall thickness that is small relative to that of an adjacent portion of the sealing ring, and has a preformed internal circumferential bead positioned to engage the rim at or near its top inner region. As the closure is applied to the container, the outer portion of the sealing ring first engages the rim, and the sealing ring is easily deformed by virtue of the hinge portion. After the bead seats on the rim, the sealing ring is stretched outwardly completely over the rim, with the bead serving to resist stretching from the hinge portion.

Abstract: An automatic feeding hopper employs a reservoir for storing disk-like objects in a plurality of substantially horizontal rows in a substantially vertical plane. A conveyor adjoins the reservoir for engagement with a substantial portion of the lowermost row of disk-like objects in the reservoir to remove the disk-like objects from the reservoir, an exit chute is positioned adjacent the conveyor to receive the disk-like objects in a single row, and a deflecting member is positioned near the entrance to the exit chute to guide and maintain the flow of disk-like objects in a single row from the conveyor into the exit chute. The deflecting member has an upper concavely curved surface intersected by a lower curved surface which leads into a side of the exit chute, the curved surfaces meeting at an edge located a distance above the surface of the conveyor slightly more than the diameter of a disk-like object.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods and machinery are provided for automatically inspecting shaped, lined closures and rejecting those which fail to meet pre-established criteria for shape and seal. Specifically, shaped closures having concave interior portions and resilient sealing liners are supplied to an inspection station comprising one or more female inspection nests for receiving individual closures and one or more respective male inspection heads for insertion into the concave portions of respective closures. The inspection heads are provided with exterior shapes approximating the interiors of ideal closures so that penetration into the closure indicates the conformity of the closure to the ideal. Preferably, the inspection head is connected to a source of pressurized fluid for testing both the depth of penetration and the adequacy of the sealing ring.

Abstract: Pressure relief openings are provided in roll-on (twist-off) closures for beverage bottles to release gas pressure within the closure promptly as the closure is turned to remove it and before missiling of the closure can occur.

Abstract: Pressure relief channels are provided at the neck of beverage bottles of the type having roll-on (twist-off) closures to release gas pressure within the closure promptly as the closure is turned to remove it and before missiling of the closure can occur.

Abstract: A hopper is constructed to control the rapid, uniform and constant flow of disk-like objects, more particularly bottle crowns. The hopper employs a reservoir and means for feeding the disk-like objects to the reservoir. An electric eye responsive to the level of disk-like objects in the reservoir is connected to the feeding means to maintain a predetermined level of the objects in the reservoir. A conveyor is positioned to adjoin the reservoir to remove and deliver the disk-like objects at a uniform rate to the point of use of the hoppered objects.If the disk-like objects are asymmetrical, an orienting device is provided between the feeding means and the reservoir to orient the objects as they are delivered to the reservoir.

Abstract: Pressure relief openings are provided in roll-on (twist-off) closures for beverage bottles to release gas pressure within the closure promptly as the closure is turned to remove it and before missiling of the closure can occur.